Do I need planning permission for a porch?

A small porch is one of the simplest projects under permitted development: it's allowed on any outside door of a house as long as it's no bigger than 3 square metres, no taller than 3m, and at least 2m from a boundary with a road.

The short answer

• No more than 3 square metres of ground area, measured on the outside of the walls.
• No more than 3m tall.
• At least 2m from the boundary with a road or pavement.
• Allowed in conservation areas, National Landscapes and national parks too, unless an Article 4 direction removes the right.

The limits

• A porch can have a ground area of no more than 3 square metres, measured externally. Schedule 2, Part 1, Class D, Class D.1(b)
• A porch can be no more than 3m tall. Schedule 2, Part 1, Class D, Class D.1(c)
• No part of a porch can be within 2m of a boundary with a road or pavement. Schedule 2, Part 1, Class D, Class D.1(d)
• It must be on an external door of the house.

Measuring 3 square metres

The 3 square metres is the ground area measured on the outside of the porch walls, so the thickness of the walls counts. A porch 1.5m wide and 2m deep externally is exactly 3 square metres; anything larger needs planning permission. That's enough for a small entrance lobby, but not for a utility room or downstairs toilet.

The 2m road boundary

Many terraced and semi-detached houses have short front gardens. If any part of the porch would be within 2m of the boundary between your front garden and the pavement or road, it isn't permitted development. Measure from the front of the porch to your front boundary wall or fence.

Conservation areas and Article 4 directions

Unlike most householder rights, the porch right isn't restricted in conservation areas or other protected areas. But councils often use Article 4 directions to remove it in conservation areas, to protect the look of a street, so check whether one covers your home.

Back and side porches

The right covers a porch on any outside door, not only the front door. A back porch has the same limits, and the 2m rule only matters where that door faces a road.

Planning permission and building regulations

Planning permission and building regulations are separate. Planning is about whether you can build it and how it looks; building regulations are about whether it is built safely (structure, fire safety, insulation, drainage). Permitted development only covers planning, so you may still need building regulations approval.

A porch at ground level under 30 square metres is usually exempt from building regulations, provided the existing front door stays in place between the porch and the house. Glazing and any electrical work must still meet the regulations.

Getting certainty

If you're confident your project is permitted development, you can apply to your council for a Lawful Development Certificate. It's a formal confirmation that the work is lawful without planning permission, it costs less than a planning application, and it's useful when you come to sell the house. If you're not sure, many councils offer pre-application advice.