How high can a garden fence be?

The general position in England

As a general rule, a fence, wall or gate can be put up without planning permission if it is no more than 2 metres high, or no more than 1 metre high where it adjoins a highway used by vehicles, or a footpath next to such a highway.

Height is measured from the natural ground level, and anything on top — trellis, lattice, a topper — counts towards it.

Common exceptions

Check before you build if any of these apply:

• The property is listed, or the boundary forms part of a listed structure
• The property is in a conservation area or covered by an Article 4 direction
• Permitted development rights have been removed, often on newer estates
• There is a covenant on the title restricting boundary treatments
• The fence sits on top of a wall or a raised bank, which changes the measured height

Practical advice

If you want more privacy than 2 metres allows, the usual answer is planting behind the fence rather than a taller structure. It avoids the permission question entirely and takes far less wind load.

Your local planning authority is the definitive source. For our main areas that is usually the London Borough of Bromley, Croydon or Lewisham — always confirm with them rather than relying on a contractor's opinion.