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Do I need planning permission for a porch?

Most porches don't need planning permission in England if they're small and away from the road, but building regulations rules still apply separately.

AB-01The short answerIn England, most porches don't need planning permission if they meet the permitted development size limits. If yours is bigger than those limits, close to a shared boundary, or your house is a flat, listed, or in a conservation area, you probably do need permission. Building regulations are a separate matter - check those even if planning permission isn't needed.
AB-02Which part of the UK you're inThis guide is written for England first, because planning rules differ across the UK. The permitted development rights described here come from national planning law that applies in England only. If you're in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, see the final step for the main differences.
AB-03The size and distance limits that decide itIn England, a porch usually doesn't need planning permission if it meets all three limits: the floor area, measured externally including the walls, is no more than 3 square metres; no part of it is higher than 3 metres; and no part of it is within 2 metres of a boundary that fronts a highway, including a pavement. If you're not sure your porch meets all three, use the Planning Portal's interactive guidance rather than guessing.
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These limits are set by national planning law, so permission is legally required if any one of them is exceeded.

AB-04The exceptions that change the answerFlats and maisonettes have no permitted development rights for porches, so planning permission is needed regardless of size. Listed buildings need listed building consent for almost any alteration, including a small porch. Conservation areas, National Parks and other designated land can have tighter rules, and an Article 4 direction can remove permitted development rights from your street entirely.
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Listed building consent is a legal requirement for any alteration to a listed building, including a porch, whatever its size.

AB-05Planning permission and building regulations are separateThese are decided by different teams under different rules, and clearing one doesn't automatically clear the other. A porch is usually exempt from building regulations only if the floor area is under 30 square metres, the existing external door between house and porch stays in place, and any glazing meets current safety glazing standards. If your porch doesn't meet those conditions, you need building regulations approval even if planning permission isn't needed.
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Building regulations approval is a separate legal requirement from planning permission and applies whenever the exemption conditions aren't met.

AB-06Who to ask, and howCheck the Planning Portal's permitted development guidance for porches, and use their interactive house tool if you're unsure where you stand. If you want written proof you didn't need permission, apply to your council for a Lawful Development Certificate - useful when selling later. For building regulations, contact your council's Building Control team or a registered building control approver before starting work. If the porch sits near a shared boundary, you may also need a party wall surveyor.
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The Party Wall Act legally requires you to notify neighbours before certain work near a shared boundary.

AB-07Realistic costs and timescalesFees change, so check current figures on the Planning Portal before applying. At the rates in force from April 2026, a householder application costs £548 and a Lawful Development Certificate £274. The council has up to 8 weeks to decide. Building Control fees vary by council and by porch size, and a party wall surveyor, if needed, is a separate cost on top.
AB-08What happens if you skip itIf you build without the permission you needed, the council can issue an enforcement notice, and you might have to alter or remove the porch at your own cost. Unpermitted work often causes problems when you come to sell, as buyers' solicitors ask for proof it was lawful. Indemnity insurance can sometimes cover the risk of enforcement, but it doesn't make the work lawful, so treat it as a last resort rather than a solution.
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Councils have a legal power to take enforcement action against breaches of planning law.

AB-09If you live in Wales, Scotland or Northern IrelandIn Wales, the system is similar to England but set under separate Welsh law, so check the Planning Portal's Wales section or your local council rather than assuming the same limits apply. In Scotland, porches have their own permitted development limits, and a small porch of up to 8 m², at least 1 m from the boundary and with no heater, flue or toilet, usually doesn't need a building warrant. Check mygov.scot first. In Northern Ireland, planning is handled by your local council under its own system - check nidirect for the current rules.
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In Scotland, bigger porches need a building warrant before work starts.

Related guides

Building a porch: costs and hiring a builder

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