Before you put up a new fence, it's worth knowing the height rules. Getting them wrong can mean being asked to take the fence down.
How high can a fence be without planning permission?
- Up to 2 metres — in most gardens (rear and side boundaries), you can build a fence up to 2m high under permitted development.
- Up to 1 metre — if the fence is next to a highway used by vehicles (or the footpath beside it), the limit is 1m.
These limits include the gravel board and any trellis on top. A 1.8m fence with a 0.3m trellis on a roadside boundary would exceed the 1m limit.
When you do need planning permission
- The fence would be over 2m (or over 1m next to a vehicle highway)
- Your home is a listed building or in its curtilage
- A planning condition or "Article 4 direction" removes permitted development rights (common in conservation areas)
What about my neighbour's view or light?
There's no general "right to light" for gardens, and height rules apply to the fence itself. However, a deliberately high fence built to annoy a neighbour can be treated as a "high hedge"-style nuisance in some cases. It's always best to talk to your neighbour first.
Always check locally
Rules can vary, especially in conservation areas, so check with your local planning authority if in doubt. Scotland and Wales have broadly similar limits but confirm with your council.