Do I Need Planning Permission for a Fence?

Most garden fences do not need planning permission in England, provided they are 2 metres or less in height (1 metre if adjacent to a highway used by vehicles). These limits are set by Part 2, Class A of the GPDO 2015 and apply to fences, walls, and gates. You will need planning permission if you exceed these heights, if your property is in a conservation area with Article 4 restrictions, or if conditions on your planning permission have removed PD rights. This guide covers the exact rules, common disputes, and what happens if you breach the limits.

The Basic Rule: Permitted Development for Fences

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Key Fence & Boundary Planning Facts (England, 2024)

• Part 2, Class A covers fences, walls, and gates
• 2m maximum height (garden boundaries)
• 1m maximum height adjacent to a highway
• No planning permission needed for like-for-like replacement within height limits
• Boundary disputes are civil matters, not planning matters
• Fence ownership indicated by 'T-marks' on boundary plans

Under the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015, Schedule 2, Part 2, Class A, you can erect, maintain, improve or alter a fence, wall or gate without planning permission, provided:

• The fence is no more than 2 metres high — measured from ground level on the highest side
• Where the fence is adjacent to a highway used by vehicular traffic, the maximum height is 1 metre
• The fence does not involve development within the curtilage of a listed building

That's the core rule. If your fence is under 2 metres (roughly 6 feet 6 inches), in your back garden, and your property isn't listed or in a conservation area, you almost certainly don't need planning permission.

What Counts as "Adjacent to a Highway"?

This is where confusion starts. "Adjacent to a highway used by vehicular traffic" doesn't just mean directly next to a main road. It includes:

• Front garden fences along any road, including quiet residential streets
• Side garden fences that run alongside a road, even if the main entrance is elsewhere
• Corner plots where two sides may be considered adjacent to a highway

The 1-metre limit applies to any fence, wall, or gate that borders these highways. This is why you rarely see tall front garden fences — most would need planning permission.

What About Footpaths?

A public footpath that isn't used by vehicles doesn't trigger the 1-metre restriction. If your fence borders a pedestrian-only path, the standard 2-metre limit applies. However, if the footpath runs alongside a road (like a pavement), the highway restriction applies.

Height Limits Explained

The 2-metre measurement is taken from ground level on the highest side of the fence. This matters on sloping ground:

• If your garden is 30cm higher than your neighbour's, a 2-metre fence on your side would appear as 2.3 metres from their side
• The measurement is taken from the higher ground level, so the fence is still 2 metres for planning purposes
• However, some councils interpret this differently — check with your local authority if you're on a significant slope

Trellis on Top of a Fence

Adding trellis to the top of a fence counts towards the total height. A 1.8-metre fence panel with a 30cm trellis topper is 2.1 metres — and that needs planning permission.

This catches many people out. If you want trellis, either:

• Use shorter fence panels (1.5m) with trellis to stay under 2 metres
• Apply for planning permission for the additional height

Retaining Walls and Raised Beds

If your fence sits on top of a retaining wall or raised area, the height of the wall counts towards the fence height. A 1-metre retaining wall with a 1.5-metre fence on top is 2.5 metres total — well above the permitted development limit.

When You Definitely Need Planning Permission

Listed Buildings

If your property is a listed building, you need listed building consent for any fence within its curtilage (the land around the building that forms part of its setting). This applies regardless of height.

Even a 1-metre picket fence in the garden of a Grade II listed cottage needs consent. The listing protects the setting of the building, not just the building itself.

Conservation Areas

If you live in a conservation area, your permitted development rights for fences may have been restricted through an Article 4 direction. This is a tool councils use to control changes that would normally be permitted development.

Not all conservation areas have Article 4 directions covering fences, but many do. Check with your council's planning department before building any fence in a conservation area.

Fences Over 2 Metres

Any fence over 2 metres high needs a full planning application. This is a householder application, which currently costs £258 in England.

Councils will consider:

• The visual impact on the street scene
• The effect on neighbours' light and outlook
• Whether the height is justified
• The materials and design

Fences Near the Highway Over 1 Metre

Front garden fences, walls, or gates over 1 metre adjacent to a road need planning permission. Councils are particularly cautious about:

• Visibility splays at junctions — tall fences that block drivers' sightlines
• The character of the street — if no other properties have tall front fences, yours is unlikely to be approved
• Highway safety concerns

Fence Types and Materials

Planning permission rules apply equally regardless of the fence material. Whether it's:

• Close-board timber fencing
• Panel fencing
• Chain link
• Metal railings
• Brick or stone walls
• Hedges (see below)

The same height limits apply. However, if you're applying for permission for a taller fence, the choice of material may affect whether it's approved. An open-style railing at 2.5 metres is more likely to be approved than a solid 2.5-metre close-board fence.

What About Hedges?

Hedges are not legally "fences" and are not subject to the same planning height limits. You can grow a hedge as tall as you like without planning permission. However, the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 (Part 8) gives neighbours the right to complain about evergreen hedges over 2 metres that affect their enjoyment of their property.

This doesn't involve planning permission — it's dealt with through the council's environmental health or anti-social behaviour team.

Boundary Disputes and Ownership

Planning permission is separate from boundary ownership. Even if you have planning permission (or permitted development rights) for a fence, you need to build it on your own land.

Common issues:

• Party boundaries — if the boundary line runs through the middle of an existing fence, both neighbours have responsibilities
• Deeds and title plans — check your property deeds to confirm exactly where your boundary lies
• The "T" mark — on title plans, a "T" mark on your side of the boundary usually means you're responsible for that boundary feature

Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland

The rules above apply to England. Other parts of the UK have different regulations:

Scotland

Similar principles apply under the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Scotland) Order 1992. Fences up to 2 metres in rear gardens and 1 metre adjacent to roads are generally permitted. However, specific conditions differ — check with your local authority.

Wales

Wales has its own GPDO. The height limits are broadly the same (2 metres / 1 metre adjacent to highways), but Wales has its own planning portal and application process.

Northern Ireland

Permitted development rules in Northern Ireland are set out in the Planning (General Permitted Development) Order (Northern Ireland) 2015. Similar height restrictions apply.

Enforcement: What Happens If You Build Without Permission?

If you build a fence that needs planning permission without getting it, your council can take enforcement action. This typically means:

1. A neighbour or passer-by complains to the council
2. The council investigates and confirms the fence breaches planning rules
3. They issue an enforcement notice requiring you to reduce the height or remove the fence
4. You have a right to appeal
5. If you don't comply, the council can do the work themselves and bill you

Alternatively, you can apply for retrospective planning permission. If approved, the fence can stay. If refused, you'll need to remove or alter it.

The council has 4 years from the date of the breach to take enforcement action for operational development like fences. After 4 years, the fence becomes immune from enforcement (though this doesn't make it lawful — that requires a certificate of lawfulness).

How to Apply for Planning Permission for a Fence

If you do need planning permission, the process is straightforward:

1. Apply online via the Planning Portal or your council's website
2. Submit a location plan, site plan, and elevations showing the fence
3. Pay the application fee (currently £258 for householder applications in England)
4. Wait for a decision — typically 8 weeks

For most fence applications, the key considerations are height, design, visibility, and impact on neighbours.

Practical Tips

• Measure carefully — 2 metres from the highest ground level, including any trellis or capping
• Check for Article 4 directions — especially in conservation areas
• Talk to your neighbours — even if you don't need permission, a friendly conversation avoids disputes
• Use PlanWatch to check if your council has any relevant planning policies for your area — requirements vary, so check your local council's planning portal, e.g. Liverpool or Newcastle upon Tyne
• Consider a lawful development certificate if you're unsure — this gives you written confirmation from the council that your fence is permitted development

Other common garden projects have their own rules: see Do I Need Planning Permission for a Shed? for outbuilding rules, and Do I Need Planning Permission for a Driveway? if you're also paving your front garden.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I put up a 6-foot fence without planning permission?

A standard 6-foot (1.83m) fence panel is under the 2-metre limit, so yes — in your back garden, away from the highway, and on an unlisted property. Add gravel boards or trellis and you may go over 2 metres, which would need permission.

Can my neighbour put up a 6-foot fence?

Yes, subject to the same rules. If the fence is under 2 metres and in their back garden, they don't need planning permission and don't need your consent. If it's over 2 metres, they'd need planning permission, and you'd be consulted as a neighbour.

Do I need planning permission for a front garden fence?

If it's over 1 metre high and adjacent to a road used by vehicles, yes. Under 1 metre, no (unless the property is listed or other restrictions apply).

Can the council make me take down a fence?

Yes, if it was built without the necessary planning permission and they take enforcement action within 4 years. They'll issue an enforcement notice first, giving you time to apply retrospectively or appeal.

Does a hedge count as a fence for planning purposes?

No. Hedges aren't subject to planning height limits. However, evergreen hedges over 2 metres can be subject to complaints under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003.

Do I need planning permission for a garden wall?

The same rules apply to walls as to fences — 2 metres maximum height (1 metre adjacent to a highway). Walls also need to comply with building regulations if they're structural or retaining.

What about temporary fences?

Temporary fences for construction or security purposes may have different rules. If the fence is genuinely temporary (removed within a reasonable timeframe), enforcement is unlikely. However, a "temporary" fence that stays up for months could be treated as permanent development.

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Further Reading

Related Guides

• Party Wall Act Explained
• How to Appeal a Planning Decision
• Planning Enforcement: When Rules Are Broken
• Conservation Areas and Planning
• Permitted Development Rights Explained
• How Much Does Planning Permission Cost?
• How Long Does Planning Permission Take?
• Do I Need Planning Permission for a Shed?
• Do I Need Planning Permission for a Driveway?

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