Good news: the majority of garden fences fall under "permitted development" and need no planning application at all. But there are important exceptions.

When you don't need planning permission

  • The fence is 2 metres or less in height (rear and side boundaries), or
  • The fence is 1 metre or less where it borders a road used by vehicles, and
  • Your permitted development rights haven't been removed.

When you do need planning permission

  • The fence exceeds 2m (or 1m next to a vehicle highway)
  • Your property is a listed building or within its curtilage
  • You're in a conservation area with an Article 4 direction removing permitted development rights
  • A condition on your property's original planning permission restricts fences (common on newer estates)

If you need permission, a householder planning application is usually inexpensive and handled by your local council. An installer can advise, but the responsibility sits with the homeowner.

How to check

  1. Measure the intended height including gravel board and trellis.
  2. Check whether your boundary faces a road used by vehicles.
  3. Search your local planning authority's website, or call their planning duty desk.

Once you know what you can build, get free quotes from local fencing installers.