Do I Need Planning Permission for Gates and Pillars?
IT DEPENDS
IT DEPENDS — gates and pillars are treated like fences for planning purposes. Front garden gates over 1 metre and side/rear gates over 2 metres need planning permission.
Keep reading for the full rules.
Gates, pillars, and boundary structures are treated as fences for planning purposes. The same height rules apply: front garden gates and pillars over 1 metre require planning permission; rear and side gates and pillars over 2 metres require planning permission.
Permitted Development Rules by Region
Permitted Development Rules — England
- ✓Gates and pillars are treated as fences or walls for planning purposes (Part 2, Class A of the GPDO).
- ✓Front garden gates and pillars: maximum 1 metre without planning permission.
- ✓Side and rear gates and pillars: maximum 2 metres without planning permission.
- ✓Any gate or pillar exceeding these heights requires planning permission.
- ✓Listed buildings require listed building consent for any new gates or pillars.
- ✓Conservation areas may require permission for gates that affect the character of the area.
Size & Position Limits (England)
| Requirement | Limit / Rule |
|---|---|
| Front garden gates/pillars | Max 1 metre without planning permission |
| Side/rear gates/pillars | Max 2 metres without planning permission |
| Listed buildings | Listed building consent required |
| Conservation areas | Check with council — character must be preserved |
When Do You Need Planning Permission?
Even if your project is usually permitted development, planning permission is required in these circumstances:
- ✗A front garden gate or pillar over 1 metre high.
- ✗A side or rear gate or pillar over 2 metres high.
- ✗Any gate structure on a listed building curtilage.
What Happens If You Build Without Permission?
Oversized gates and pillars can be subject to enforcement action. Pillar height is measured from ground level and includes decorative finials.
Enforcement notices: Your council can issue an enforcement notice requiring you to stop the work, remove it, or restore the land to its original condition. You have a right of appeal against an enforcement notice.
Retrospective applications: If you have already carried out work that required planning permission, you can submit a retrospective planning application. If approved, this regularises the work. If refused, you may be required to remove it.
Time limits: For dwelling houses, the council generally has 4 years to take enforcement action for most types of work. For breaches of planning conditions, the time limit is 10 years. There is no time limit for listed building enforcement.