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GPDO 2015 England Permitted Development rules · statutory fees effective 1 April 2026

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Energy & EV Schedule 2, Part 2 · Part 2 Class D/E

EV Charger Planning Rules: Wall-Mounted & Freestanding Chargepoints

Home electric vehicle chargepoints are Permitted Development under GPDO Part 2 – Class D for wall-mounted units and Class E for freestanding upstands – as long as they serve an area lawfully used for off-street parking. Size and highway-distance rules apply. Check your charger setup below.

If PD
£0
Application
£272
Decision
8 wks

Step 1 · Your project

EV Chargers checker

Charger type
Wall unit size including casing

Typical 7kW domestic wallboxes are about 0.01m³ – well under the limit.

Does the wall unit face onto a highway?
3.0m
Is the space lawfully used for off-street parking?
Listed building or scheduled monument?

Rules reflect the GPDO 2015 (England) for houses. Flats, maisonettes, listed buildings and Article 4 areas have restricted rights. Disclaimer.

Step 2 · Live statutory assessment

Permitted Development – Part 2 Class D/E

Part 2 Class D/E

Your Wall-mounted unit charger meets the Part 2 conditions. No planning application is needed – your installer will handle electrical certification.

  • Serves a lawful off-street parking space.
  • Wall unit is within the 0.2m³ Class D size limit.
  • Wall unit does not face onto a highway within 2m.
ELEVATION – CHARGER POSITION & HIGHWAY DISTANCE
HIGHWAY HOUSE WALL UNIT ≤ 0.2m³ 3.0m TO HIGHWAY

England fees & timings (from 1 April 2026)

Council application fee

£0

Part 2 Permitted Development

Lawful Development Certificate

£136

Rarely needed for chargers

Decision time

0 weeks

Install once surveyed

Applying online via the Planning Portal adds a £91 service charge (inc. VAT).

Builder & neighbour spec sheet

Export these exact limits and your answers to share with your contractor.

At a glance

EV Chargers: the statutory limits in England

  • The charger must be in an area lawfully used for off-street parking.
  • Wall-mounted outlet and casing: max 0.2m³ volume (Class D).
  • A wall unit must not face onto and be within 2m of a highway.
  • Freestanding upstand: max 1.6m high including the casing (Class E), and not within 2m of a highway.
  • Only one upstand per parking space.
  • Must be removed as soon as reasonably practicable once no longer needed; no rights for listed building curtilages or scheduled monuments.

Statutory reference

Legislation summary & 2026 fee table

England statutory planning fees effective 1 April 2026. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland operate different regimes.

GPDO legislation and fee summary for EV Chargers
Primary legislation Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (SI 2015/596), as amended
GPDO Schedule / Part Schedule 2, Part 2
Class Class D (wall-mounted outlets) & Class E (upstands) – electrical outlets for recharging vehicles
Exact reference GPDO 2015 Sch.2 Pt.2 Class D, D.1–D.2; Class E, E.1–E.2
Standard application fee £272 – Outbuildings, walls, fences & gates
Lawful Development Certificate (proposed) £136 – optional proof the works are lawful
Planning Portal service charge £91 (inc. VAT) if submitted online
Council determination period 8 weeks
Key exclusions Not permitted within the curtilage of a listed building or on a scheduled monument.

Avoid enforcement

The 3 most common homeowner traps

Trap #1

Mounting on the front wall facing the pavement

On terraced streets with a short front garden, the obvious spot is the front wall – but if the unit faces onto the highway and is within 2m of it, it is outside Class D. Mount it on a side return, porch flank or gate pier that does not face the road.

Trap #2

No lawful off-street space

Chargers are only PD where they serve lawful off-street parking. Paving a front garden without the required dropped kerb does not create a lawful space, and running a cable over the footway can lead to council action. Sort the driveway and kerb first.

Trap #3

Ignoring smart charging rules

Since 2022, chargers sold for home use must comply with the Electric Vehicles (Smart Charge Points) Regulations 2021 – smart functionality and off-peak default settings. Cheap imported units may not comply; use an approved installer.

Separate legal regimes

Building Regulations vs planning permission

Even though most home chargers need no planning permission, the electrical installation is regulated:

Part P notification
A new dedicated circuit is notifiable electrical work – a registered electrician self-certifies and notifies Building Control.
BS 7671 & earthing
Outdoor chargers on PME supplies need specific earthing arrangements or built-in protection under the Wiring Regulations.
DNO notification
Your installer must notify the Distribution Network Operator, who may need to upgrade an old 60A fuse or looped supply.
Part S (new homes)
Approved Document S requires chargepoints in new homes and some major renovations – it does not force existing homes to install one.

Fixing a wallbox to your own wall needs no notice. Mounting it on a party wall or a neighbour’s side wall is a matter for the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 and the neighbour’s consent – use your own elevation or a freestanding upstand instead.

FAQs

EV Chargers: frequently asked questions

Do I need planning permission for a home EV charger?

Usually not. A wall-mounted unit up to 0.2m³ or an upstand up to 1.6m high serving a lawful off-street space is Permitted Development under Part 2 Classes D and E, subject to the 2m highway rule. If it fails these conditions, an application costs £272.

Can I run a charging cable across the pavement?

Not without your council’s agreement. Loose cables can be an obstruction and trip hazard under highways law. A growing number of councils licence cable gullies or channels set into the footway – ask your highway authority.

Do I need permission for a charger in a conservation area?

Part 2 Classes D and E are not removed in conservation areas, so the same rules apply – unless an Article 4 Direction says otherwise, or the house is listed.

Does an EV charger need Building Regulations approval?

The electrical installation is notifiable Part P work, normally self-certified by a registered electrician who issues a certificate and notifies Building Control. Keep the paperwork for when you sell.

Sources: The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 and amendments (legislation.gov.uk); MHCLG ‘Permitted development rights for householders: technical guidance’; the Town and Country Planning (Fees for Applications…) (England) Regulations 2012 as amended; Building Regulations 2010 Approved Documents; Party Wall etc. Act 1996. Last reviewed 15 October 2026. See our editorial standards and disclaimer.

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