Owning a Property

Permitted Development Rights, What You Can Build Without Planning Permission

Permitted Development rights allow homeowners in England to carry out certain building works without applying for planning permission. This guide explains what is and is not covered.

Published: 16 Mar 2026 · Updated: 16 Mar 2026 · 7 min read

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What Are Permitted Development Rights?

Permitted Development (PD) rights are a form of planning permission granted automatically by Parliament through the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (the GPDO). They allow homeowners to carry out specified types of works without needing to submit a full planning application to their local planning authority (LPA).

PD rights apply to the dwelling house itself (Class A–H within Schedule 2 of the GPDO). They do not apply to flats, maisonettes, or commercial properties.

Key Restrictions, When PD Rights Do Not Apply

Before assuming works are permitted development, check whether any of the following apply:

Restriction	Effect
Conservation Area	Many PD rights are withdrawn or restricted
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)	Reduced PD rights for extensions and outbuildings
National Park	Reduced PD rights
Listed Building	PD rights do not apply, Listed Building Consent required
Article 4 Direction	Local authority has removed specific PD rights in an area
New-build estate conditions	Developer may have removed PD rights via planning condition

Always check the planning history of your property on the Planning Portal or with your LPA before starting work.

Single-Storey Rear Extensions

Under Class A of the GPDO, a single-storey rear extension is permitted development if:

It does not extend beyond the rear wall of the original house by more than **4 metres** (detached house) or **3 metres** (semi-detached or terraced)
The height does not exceed **4 metres**
The width does not exceed half the width of the original house

A **Prior Approval** procedure (the Householder Prior Approval process) allows extensions of up to **8 metres** (detached) or **6 metres** (other houses), subject to neighbour consultation.

Two-Storey Rear Extensions

A two-storey rear extension must not:

Extend beyond the rear wall by more than **3 metres**
Be within 7 metres of the rear boundary
Exceed the height of the existing roof

Side Extensions

Side extensions are permitted development only if they are single-storey and no wider than half the original width of the house. Side extensions of more than one storey always require planning permission.

Outbuildings

Garden buildings, sheds, garages, and other outbuildings in the garden are permitted development provided they:

Are not forward of the principal elevation
Cover no more than 50% of the land around the original house (in combination with all extensions and outbuildings)
Are no more than 2.5 metres in height if within 2 metres of the boundary (4 metres with a dual-pitched roof otherwise)

Loft Conversions

Loft conversions without a dormer fall within PD. Dormers are also permitted development subject to volume limits (40 cubic metres for terraced houses, 50 cubic metres for detached and semi-detached). Dormers on the principal (front) elevation always require planning permission.

Lawful Development Certificates

Even where works are permitted development, it is strongly advisable to obtain a **Lawful Development Certificate (LDC)** from the LPA. This is a formal written confirmation that the works were lawful. Without an LDC, you may face difficulties proving permitted development status when you come to sell. Property Passport UK can store your LDC alongside other property documents for easy retrieval during conveyancing.