Fence height guide

Maximum Fence Height UK

How high can a garden fence usually be without planning permission?

For houses in England and Wales, the common national thresholds are 1 metre beside a highway used by vehicles (or the footpath of such a highway) and 2 metres elsewhere. Scotland and Northern Ireland have similar headline figures but different wording and exceptions.

What to watch for

The simple 1m/2m summary is only a starting point. Listed buildings, Article 4 directions, planning conditions and nation-specific rules can change the answer.

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.