Fence height guide

Fence Height Between Neighbours

What is the usual height limit between neighbouring gardens?

For a typical boundary away from the road, 2 metres is the common permitted-development threshold in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, subject to each nation’s detailed rules and property-specific restrictions.

What to watch for

Ownership and planning permission are separate questions: being allowed to build to a certain height does not prove that you own the fence or boundary.

This page is general planning information, not a legal determination. If the property is listed, in a conservation area, subject to an Article 4 direction or planning condition, or the site layout is unusual, check the relevant authority before starting work.

Check your own situation

Our tool asks the extra questions that change the result and links back to the official source for the selected UK nation.

Use the Fence Height Checker

Related guides

Official sources

See our official sources page for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.