Check if the work is covered by permitted development

Extensions and home improvements

You can carry out some small alterations and extensions to your home or in your garden without planning permission under permitted development. Examples include:

• single storey ground floor extensions
• porches
• roof alterations
• paving, patios, driveways, decking and raised platforms

You can find out more about permitted development rights and how to make a permitted development enquiry in our guide to permitted development rights.

Gates, fences, walls, road access and painting stone

A number of other minor works can be undertaken without planning permission under permitted development:

• erecting or altering gates, fences, walls or other means of enclosure
• forming or constructing new access to roads
• cleaning or painting stone

Find out more about permitted development rights for minor works.

Agriculture and forestry buildings

Some work for the purposes of agriculture can be done without planning permission under permitted development:

• erecting, extending or altering an agricultural building
• forming, altering or maintaining private ways on agricultural land
• excavation or engineering operations on agricultural land
• conversion of agricultural and forestry buildings to dwellings to a flexible commercial use

Find out more about agriculture and forestry buildings.

Converting agricultural and forestry buildings to residential and flexible commercial use

Since 2021, new rules have allowed for agricultural and forestry buildings to be converted to residential or flexible commercial use under certain circumstances.

Find out more about converting agricultural and forestry buildings to residential and flexible commercial use.

Changes of use for land and buildings

Buildings and land are grouped into classes depending on how they are used. Any material change of use may require planning permission.

If a change of use does not involve a change of class then planning permission is not required, unless a restriction has previously applied. In addition, some changes of class do not require planning permission unless a restriction has previously applied.

Find out more about how to change how land or a building is used.