Do you need planning permission? Check in 60 seconds.
15 free interactive checkers built on the GPDO 2015. Set your dimensions, watch a live blueprint update, and get the exact statutory limits, council fees and a spec sheet for your builder.
- Free, no sign-up
- Exact GPDO references
- Builder spec sheet
Fee
£249
Decision
42 days
Class
Pt 1 A
Project directory
Choose your home improvement project
Each checker has its own rule engine, dimension controls and live elevation drawing, plus a full statutory reference guide.
Fences, Walls & Trellis
2.0m rear limit, 1.0m next to a highway – trellis included
Open checkerSheds & Garden Rooms
2.5m within 2m of a boundary, 4m apex / 3m flat, 50% rule
Open checkerDriveways & Dropped Kerbs
Permeable surfacing over 5m², 4.8m depth, A/B/C road rules
Open checkerDecking & Raised Patios
Max 30cm above ground, 50% garden coverage
Open checkerSingle-Storey Rear Extensions
3m/4m standard PD, 6m/8m Larger Home Prior Approval
Open checkerLoft Conversions & Dormers
40m³ terraced / 50m³ semi & detached, rear dormers only
Open checkerPorches
Max 3m² footprint, 3m high, 2m from the highway
Open checkerAir Source Heat Pumps
MCS noise standard, compressor size limit, 2025 PD changes
Open checkerEV Chargers
Wall unit 0.2m³, upstand 1.6m, 2m highway rule
Open checkerGarage Conversions
PD eligibility, estate conditions, covenants & Building Regs
Open checkerConservatories & Orangeries
Same footprint limits as extensions, 30m² Building Regs exemption
Open checkerTwo-Storey Rear Extensions
Max 3m deep, 7m to rear boundary, matching roof pitch
Open checkerSolar Panels
200mm projection, below the ridge, flat-roof rules
Open checkerFront Garden Walls & Gates
1.0m next to a highway, conservation area demolition rules
Open checkerGarden Annexes & Sleeping Accommodation
Why bedrooms need a £548 application, not Class E
Open checkerStatutory fees
England planning fee schedule 2026
National planning application fees for householders in England, effective 1 April 2026. Fees are set by regulations and are the same at every council in England; they are not refundable if permission is refused.
Different fee regimes apply in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
| Application type | When you need it | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Householder planning application | Extensions, loft conversions, porches, solar, heat pumps and other alterations to a single house that fall outside Permitted Development. | £548 |
| Outbuildings, walls, fences & gates | Sheds, garden rooms, fences, walls, gates, hardstandings and EV upstands that exceed PD limits. | £272 |
| Lawful Development Certificate (proposed) | Optional: legal certainty that a proposed extension, loft or porch is Permitted Development. | £274 |
| LDC (proposed) – curtilage works | Optional: certificate for a proposed outbuilding, fence, wall or gate. | £136 |
| Prior Approval | 6m/8m Larger Home Extension or Additional Storeys notifications. | £249 |
| Discharge or variation of conditions | Discharging a condition, or a s73 application to vary/remove one (e.g. a garage-retention condition). | £89 |
| Planning Portal online service charge | Added to any of the above when you submit online via the Planning Portal. | £91 |
Quick guide
Permitted Development vs Prior Approval vs full planning
Every householder project in England falls into one of three routes. The checkers above tell you which one – here is what each means in practice.
Permitted Development
Council fee
£0
Timescale
Start now
A deemed national planning permission granted by the GPDO 2015. If your project meets every limit and condition for its Class, you need no application at all.
- No council application or fee
- Optional Lawful Development Certificate for proof
- Building Regulations still apply
Prior Approval
Council fee
£249
Timescale
42 days
A light-touch notification for specific PD rights – most commonly the 6m/8m Larger Home Extension. The council can only assess limited matters such as neighbour amenity.
- Neighbours consulted for 21 days
- Deemed approval if no decision in 42 days
- Must not start until approved
Full planning permission
Council fee
£548
Timescale
8 weeks
Needed when a project falls outside Permitted Development, or where PD rights are removed by condition, Article 4 Direction or listed status. The council judges the full planning merits.
- Drawings, site plan and application forms
- Assessed against the local plan & design guides
- Appeal route if refused
Where Permitted Development rights are restricted
- Article 2(3) land – conservation areas, National Parks, National Landscapes (AONBs), the Broads and World Heritage Sites: no cladding, no side extensions, no Class B loft dormers, no Larger Home Extensions.
- Article 4 Directions – councils can remove specific PD rights street by street. Check your council’s Article 4 map.
- Listed buildings – Listed Building Consent is needed for works affecting character, inside or out.
- Flats & maisonettes – no householder PD rights under Part 1.
- New-build estates – planning conditions frequently remove PD rights.
How to use a checker in 3 steps
- 1Measure from natural ground level – the highest point next to the structure where the ground is uneven.
- 2Answer every toggle honestly – especially listed status, conservation areas and previous extensions to the ‘original’ 1948 house.
- 3Export the spec sheet and confirm with your council – or apply for a Lawful Development Certificate (£274) for legal certainty.
FAQs
Planning permission basics
What is Permitted Development?
Permitted Development (PD) rights are a national grant of planning permission set out in the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015. They let householders carry out defined works – such as modest extensions, loft conversions, outbuildings and fences – without applying to the council, provided strict limits and conditions are met.
How much is a householder planning application in England in 2026?
From 1 April 2026 a householder planning application costs £548. Outbuildings, walls, fences and gates cost £272, a Prior Approval for a larger home extension costs £249, and a Lawful Development Certificate for proposed householder works costs £274. The Planning Portal adds a £91 service charge for online submissions.
Do Permitted Development rights apply to flats?
No. The householder classes in Part 1 of Schedule 2 apply only to houses. Flats and maisonettes need planning permission for most external works. Listed buildings, properties in Article 4 areas and some new-build estates also have restricted rights.
Should I get a Lawful Development Certificate?
It is optional, but recommended for significant works. An LDC is a legally binding confirmation from the council that your project is lawful, which buyers’ solicitors often ask for and which protects you against enforcement.