Do You Need Planning Permission for Decking? UK Guide
The exact height and coverage thresholds for decking in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and when you need planning permission.
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Thu, 28 Jul 2026
Do You Need Planning Permission for Decking?
In most of the UK, ground-level decking in a back garden is treated as “permitted development” and doesn’t need planning permission — but only if it stays under a set height, doesn’t cover too much of your garden, and sits behind the house rather than in front. Raised decking, decking at flats and maisonettes, decking at listed buildings, and decking in some conservation areas usually falls outside these allowances. The exact thresholds differ between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, so it’s worth checking the figures for your nation before you build.
Disclaimer
This article is general information for homeowners in the UK, correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of writing (August 2026). It is not legal or professional planning advice and should not be relied on as a definitive answer for your property. Permitted development rules have exceptions (Article 4 directions, planning conditions, listed building status, conservation area designations, and site-specific factors) that can change what applies to you. Always confirm your specific situation with your Local Planning Authority (or, in Northern Ireland, your local council’s planning service) — or apply for a Lawful Development Certificate — before starting work.
At a Glance
Typically Permitted Development If…
Needs Extra Care
England
Decking/platform ≤ 30cm (0.3m) above natural ground level, sited behind the principal elevation, and combined with other extensions/outbuildings covers no more than 50% of the garden
Flats, maisonettes; listed building curtilage (no permitted development rights for decking); conservation areas / Article 4 directions
Wales
Same core thresholds as England: ≤ 30cm above ground level and ≤ 50% combined garden coverage
Flats, maisonettes; listed buildings; conservation areas / Article 4 directions
Scotland
At the rear of the house, floor level ≤ 0.5m above ground and overall height (including any balustrade) ≤ 2.5m above ground
Within a conservation area or the curtilage of a listed building, permitted decking is limited to 4m²; listed buildings also need listed building consent
Northern Ireland
Within a conservation area or the curtilage of a listed building, permitted decking is limited to 4m²; listed buildings also need listed building consent
Conservation areas add positioning restrictions; listed buildings and Article 4-type directions remove permitted development rights
Building Regulations
Often separate from planning permission — decking can be planning-exempt but may still need to meet structural and safety standards
If your deck needs planning permission, assume Building Regulations apply too; raised or elevated decks in particular should be checked with building control
Figures above are the commonly published thresholds from official planning guidance (see Sources). Treat them as a starting point, not a guarantee — always verify against your property’s specific planning history and local designations.
What Counts as “Permitted Development” for Decking in England?
Under the Planning Portal’s guidance for England, decking or a raised platform is generally permitted development — meaning no planning application is needed — if it is no more than 30cm (0.3m) above the natural ground level, isn’t positioned forward of the wall that forms the principal elevation of the house, and, together with any other extensions or outbuildings already in the garden, doesn’t take the total covered area beyond 50% of the garden.
These allowances apply to houses, not to flats, maisonettes, or other buildings — so if you live in a flat, different rules apply (see below).
When Does Decking Need Planning Permission in England?
You’re likely to need planning permission if the decking is raised more than 30cm above ground level, if it (with other structures) covers more than half the garden, if it projects in front of the house facing a road, or if it sits within the curtilage of a listed building — where permitted development rights for decking don’t apply at all. Sloped gardens that require substantial platform-raising to level a deck can also push a project over the height threshold once ground level is properly measured.
Local planning conditions or an Article 4 direction (commonly used in conservation areas) can also remove permitted development rights that would otherwise apply, so a project that looks compliant on paper may still need an application in these areas.
When Does Decking Need Planning Permission in England?
You’re likely to need planning permission if the decking is raised more than 30cm above ground level, if it (with other structures) covers more than half the garden, if it projects in front of the house facing a road, or if it sits within the curtilage of a listed building — where permitted development rights for decking don’t apply at all. Sloped gardens that require substantial platform-raising to level a deck can also push a project over the height threshold once ground level is properly measured.
Local planning conditions or an Article 4 direction (commonly used in conservation areas) can also remove permitted development rights that would otherwise apply, so a project that looks compliant on paper may still need an application in these areas.
Do the Rules Differ for Flats and Maisonettes?
Yes. The permitted development allowances described above apply only to houses. If you live in a flat, maisonette, or a property created as a new dwelling through permitted development rights (such as a barn or office conversion), you generally cannot rely on the same decking allowances and should check directly with your Local Planning Authority before building any decking, even at ground level.
What About Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas, and Article 4 Directions?
Listed buildings are a special case: permitted development rights for decking generally do not apply within the curtilage of a listed building, so planning permission (and potentially listed building consent, particularly in Scotland) is likely to be needed regardless of the deck’s height or size. Conservation areas and land subject to an Article 4 direction can also have permitted development rights removed or restricted by the Local Planning Authority — this varies by council, so check locally rather than assuming your project is exempt.
Does Scotland Have Different Rules?
Yes — Scotland’s thresholds are different from England and Wales. Under Scottish permitted development rules, decking built at the rear of a house is generally allowed without planning permission if the floor level is no more than 0.5m above ground and the overall height (including any balustrade) is no more than 2.5m above ground. Within a conservation area or the curtilage of a listed building, permitted decking in Scotland is limited to no more than 4m², and listed buildings also require listed building consent. As with the rest of the UK, mygov.scot advises checking with your council even if you believe you meet the permitted development criteria.
Does Wales Have Different Rules?
Wales has its own planning legislation, but the Welsh Government’s published guidance sets essentially the same core figures as England: decking no more than 30cm above ground level, and — combined with other extensions and outbuildings — no more than 50% coverage of the garden, with the same exclusions for flats, maisonettes, and listed buildings, and the same possibility that a council has removed rights via an Article 4 direction.
Does Northern Ireland Have Different Rules?
Northern Ireland has its own planning order (the Planning (General Permitted Development) Order (Northern Ireland) 2015), separate from England, Scotland, and Wales. Local council guidance based on this order generally mirrors England’s figures — decking no more than 0.3m above ground level, not positioned forward of the principal or side elevation facing a road, and any railing capped at 2m — with combined garden coverage limits and additional restrictions in conservation areas. Because this is drawn from council guidance rather than a single national consumer-facing page, it’s worth confirming the current position with your local council’s planning service before relying on it.
What About Building Regulations?
Planning permission and Building Regulations are assessed separately, and decking that’s exempt from planning permission is not automatically exempt from Building Regulations. Planning Portal guidance for England states that Building Regulations should generally be assumed to apply to any deck structure that itself requires planning permission, and recommends checking with your local building control body for anything else.
In practice, this means ground-level, garden-variety decking often falls outside formal Building Regulations approval, but structural safety still matters: footings, joist spans and fixings should be adequate for the load, and raised decks with a significant fall height typically need compliant guarding (handrails/balustrades) under the Approved Document K standards for protection from falling — a threshold commonly cited around 600mm of fall height, though you should confirm current guidance with your building control body rather than relying on that figure alone. If in doubt, ask your local building control body directly.
What Should I Do If I’m Not Sure?
If you’re not certain whether your decking project needs permission, there are two safe routes:
Contact your Local Planning Authority (or council planning service in Northern Ireland).
Most councils offer a pre-application enquiry service, and some publish simple checklists specifically for decking.
Apply for a Lawful Development Certificate (LDC).
This is a formal, fee-paying application that gets a written decision confirming whether your proposed (or existing) decking is lawful without planning permission — useful evidence to keep if you ever sell the property or a neighbour raises a query.
Building without checking, when permission was actually required, can leave you needing retrospective planning permission or, in the worst case, having to alter or remove the decking.
FAQ
Do I need planning permission for a simple ground-level deck in my back garden?
In England, Wales, and (subject to Scotland’s own height figures) Scotland and Northern Ireland, low-level decking behind the house that stays under the relevant height threshold and doesn’t push total garden coverage over the stated limit is generally permitted development. Always confirm the current threshold and any local restrictions with your council first.
How is “ground level” measured for decking height rules?
Height is generally measured from the natural ground level immediately around the deck, not from an artificially built-up or excavated surface. On sloping gardens this can be a common point of dispute, so it’s worth clarifying with your Local Planning Authority if your site isn’t flat.
Does composite decking have different planning rules to timber decking?
No — planning permission rules relate to the height, position, and footprint of the structure, not the decking material. Composite, timber, and other decking materials are treated the same way for planning purposes; material choice may, however, affect Building Regulations considerations such as fire performance in some situations.
Can my neighbour object to my decking, and will that stop it?
If your decking is genuinely permitted development, a neighbour’s objection alone doesn’t require you to apply for permission. If it does require permission, neighbours are typically consulted as part of the planning application process and can raise concerns such as overlooking or loss of privacy, which the council will weigh in its decision.
What happens if I build decking that needed permission but I didn’t apply?
The council can require a retrospective planning application, and if that’s refused, you may be asked to alter or remove the decking. Applying for a Lawful Development Certificate or a standard application before you build is the safer route.
Do these rules apply to raised decking or a deck attached to a balcony?
No — raised platforms, decking that functions as a balcony, or decking with significant elevation typically fall outside permitted development due to overlooking and safety considerations, and are far more likely to need planning permission and Building Regulations sign-off. See our guide to balcony building regulations, linked below, for more on elevated structures.
