The short answer
Under permitted development in England, you can usually put up or replace a fence up to 2 metres high without planning permission. The limit drops to 1 metre where the fence is next to a highway used by vehicles, or a footpath alongside such a highway (typically a front-garden fence facing the road). Permission is also more likely to be needed if your house is listed, if you are in a conservation area, national park or AONB, or if a planning condition or restrictive covenant on your property removes permitted development rights. Height is measured from ground level, and you must keep the fence in a safe condition. If in doubt, the Planning Portal and your local planning authority confirm your own case.
Two numbers cover most gardens: 2 metres in general, 1 metre next to a road. The exceptions below are the ones that catch people out — check them before you order tall panels.
The rules in brief
- General max2 m without permission
- Next to a road1 m without permission
- Measured fromground level
- Listed buildingpermission likely needed
- Conservation area / AONBcheck the local authority
- Covenant / planning conditioncan remove these rights
The height limits
The Planning Portal sets out that you generally do not need planning permission to put up a fence, wall or gate provided it is no more than 2 metres high. Where the boundary is next to a highway used by vehicles (or a footpath next to such a highway) the limit is 1 metre — this is why front-garden fences facing the road are kept lower. Height is measured from the natural ground level, and if your fence sits on top of a wall or bank the combined height counts. If you want to go higher than these limits, you would need to apply for planning permission.
| Location | Max height without permission |
|---|---|
| General garden boundary | 2 metres |
| Next to a highway used by vehicles | 1 metre |
| Footpath alongside such a highway | 1 metre |
| Above these heights | planning permission needed |
England permitted-development guidance. Source: Planning Portal — fences, gates and garden walls.
When the normal rules don't apply
Permitted development rights can be restricted. You should check before building if your property is listed (where you may need consent for a boundary), if you are in a conservation area, national park or Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, or if there is a planning condition or restrictive covenant that removes the usual rights — common on newer estates. Rules also differ in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, so use your own nation's guidance. When any of these apply, a quick check with your local planning authority is far cheaper than taking down a fence that breaches the rules.
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Frequently asked questions
How high can a garden fence be without planning permission?
In England you can usually build up to 2 metres high without planning permission, but the limit is 1 metre where the fence is next to a highway used by vehicles or a footpath alongside it.
Do I need planning permission for a 6ft fence?
A 6ft fence (about 1.8 metres) is within the usual 2-metre limit for most garden boundaries, so it normally needs no permission — unless it faces a road (1-metre limit), or your home is listed or in a conservation area, or a covenant removes the right.
How is fence height measured?
From the natural ground level. If the fence sits on top of a wall or raised bank, the combined height counts towards the limit.
Sources & further reading
Figures on this page are typical UK ranges drawn from published sources and depend on your specific garden. They are guidance, not a quotation.