The short answer: most garden work doesn't need planning permission. Patios, paths, lawns and planting in a back garden are usually fine. But a few things do, and they catch people out. Here's what to watch for.
This is general guidance for houses in England, not legal advice. Flats, maisonettes, listed buildings and some new-build estates have different rules, so always check for your own home.
Front gardens and driveways
This is the one that trips people up most. If you're paving more than five square metres of a front garden, the surface needs to let water through (like resin-bound or gravel), or drain onto your own lawn or borders. If it doesn't, you need planning permission.
The reason is flooding: hard front gardens send rainwater straight into the drains. We design every front drive with this in mind from the start.
If you're making a new entrance onto the road, or widening one, you'll also need a dropped kerb, which the council approves separately.
Raised patios and decking
Anything raised more than 30cm above the ground, like a raised terrace or decking, needs planning permission. So does a raised area that, together with other extensions and outbuildings, covers more than half the garden.
On a sloping garden, this is worth thinking about early. Often there's a way to design the levels so you don't need permission, and sometimes it's worth applying.
Fences, walls and gates
You can usually put up a fence, wall or gate up to 2 metres high without permission, or 1 metre where it's next to a road or footpath used by vehicles. Higher than that needs permission. Retaining walls that hold back soil should be designed properly whatever their height, because of the weight they carry.
Trees
If a tree has a Tree Preservation Order, you need the council's consent before you cut it back or remove it. In a conservation area, you need to give the council six weeks' notice before doing most work to a tree, even without an order. The council can tell you if either applies.
Listed buildings and conservation areas
If your home is listed, or in a conservation area, the rules are tighter, and even small changes near the house can need consent. Check before you plan anything.
How to check for your home
- The government's Planning Portal has clear guides for common projects.
- Your local council's planning team can tell you whether your home has special rules.
- If you want certainty that work doesn't need permission, you can apply for a Lawful Development Certificate.
We'll always flag anything in your design that might need permission at the consultation, before you've committed to anything.
Questions people ask
Do I need planning permission for a new patio?
Usually not, if it's in a back garden and at ground level. A raised patio over 30cm high can need permission, and a front garden over five square metres needs a permeable surface or drainage onto your own garden.
Is resin-bound allowed on a front drive without permission?
Resin-bound is permeable, so it's one of the surfaces that usually doesn't need permission on a front garden, as long as it's laid on a base that lets water through too.
What if I've already done the work?
Speak to your council. If permission was needed, you can usually apply afterwards (called retrospective permission). It's better to check first if you can.
