Do you need planning permission for a fence or garden gate?

The usual permitted-development position

Planning Portal guidance for England says a new or altered fence, wall or gate will often not need a planning application when the relevant conditions are met. The commonly referenced height limit is one metre where the boundary is next to a highway, including a footpath, and two metres elsewhere.

Those figures are a starting point, not permission for every property. Measure from the relevant ground level and check the exact position of the boundary in relation to the highway.

Situations that need closer checking

The general rules can be affected by the property and its planning history.

• The proposed fence or gate exceeds the applicable height
• The property is listed or within the curtilage of a listed building
• Permitted-development rights have been restricted by a planning condition or Article 4 direction
• The work affects visibility at a driveway or road junction
• The site is in a conservation area or another designated setting
• The boundary position or ownership is disputed

Replacement does not remove every question

Replacing a fence in the same place and at the same height is often straightforward, but a materially taller or differently positioned structure may not be. A new gate can also affect highway visibility and vehicle access.

Heritage can measure and install the physical boundary. The property owner remains responsible for confirming planning, covenants, landlord consent and the legal boundary unless something different is agreed in writing.

Where to confirm the answer

Use the Planning Portal guidance and contact the relevant local planning authority if the proposal is close to a limit or the property has special controls. For work in Bristol, that may be Bristol City Council; surrounding areas may fall under South Gloucestershire, Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset or another authority.

Keep any written confirmation with the project records before materials are ordered. This guide is general information, not planning or legal advice.