Find out if you'll need permission for the work you're planning
Permitted developments
Some minor alterations and extensions, particularly to houses, can often be carried out without the need for planning permission. This is known as permitted development.
To help you decide whether you need planning permission, the Planning Portal have developed interactive guides. These will help guide you through the planning and building rules for various house types and single mini guides for conservatories, extensions, loft conversions, outbuildings and porches.
Open the Planning Portal interactive guides
Please be aware that not all homes enjoy Permitted Development Rights. Often these rights have been removed, either on individual properties or an area of properties.
If these rights have been removed on an individual property, you will need to read the original planning permission for your home to ascertain whether this is the case.
Article 4 directions
The following areas may have restricted Permitted Development Rights or they may have been removed altogether, under an Article 4 Direction. Please open the relevant PDF below to select and view the associated Article 4 Direction to determine what has been removed.
- Article 4 - Holme-next-the-Sea
- Article 4 - Old Hunstanton
- Article 4 - Hunstanton
- Article 4 - Heacham and Snettisham
- Article 4 - Snettisham
- Article 4 - Houghton
- Article 4 - King's Lynn
- Article 4 - Reffley Wood
- Article 4 - Ringstead Road, Holme-next-the-Sea
- Article 4 - Land to the north of Whiteacres
- Article 4 - Middleton
Lawful development certificate
If you think that planning permission is not required, but you would like the comfort of us having confirmed that, you can apply for a lawful development certificate. There is a charge for this service. The government sets the charges, and they apply across the country. For the most up-to-date scale of fees for planning and other applications please visit Fee Calculator (planningportal.co.uk).
To apply for a lawful development certificate you'll need:
- a site plan
- a valid debit or credit card for the fee
Additional permissions
As well as getting planning permission, and complying with building regulations, you may also need additional permissions for the development to proceed.
Find out more about the most common additional consents on the Planning Portal.
Further information
If you're still not sure if you need permission, you may be able to get advice from us. Please visit our get advice before making an application page for further details.