Fence height, planning permission and boundaries
As a rule, a fence over 2m needs planning permission, and over 1m where it adjoins a road used by vehicles. Boundary ownership decides who may put a fence up at all — worth checking the deeds first.
This is the part people find out about after the posts are in. The rules are not complicated, but they are easy to fall foul of, and putting up a fence that needs permission you do not have can mean taking it down again at your own cost.
The height rules
Under permitted development in England and Wales, the general position is:
- Up to 2m — normally fine, no application needed.
- Over 2m — normally needs planning permission.
- Over 1m where the fence adjoins a highway used by vehicles, or a footpath beside one — needs permission.
Height is measured from the ground level on the higher side, which catches people out on a sloping boundary. It also includes anything on top: trellis, mesh toppings and razor wire all count towards the total.
Boundaries: who owns what
There is no general rule that you own the left-hand or right-hand boundary — that idea is folklore. Ownership is whatever the title deeds and Land Registry plan say, and often they say nothing definitive at all, in which case the boundary is treated as shared.
In practice this matters for two reasons. You cannot put a fence on someone else's boundary without their agreement, and you cannot go onto their land to build it. Fencing just inside your own line avoids both problems, and keeps the footings on your property.
Listed buildings and conservation areas
Both restrict what you can put up and often what it can be made of. A galvanised palisade fence is unlikely to be welcomed in a conservation area whatever its height. If either applies, talk to the planning department before you spend anything.
Commercial and industrial sites
The height rules are the same, but security fencing on a commercial boundary is more likely to exceed 2m and therefore more likely to need an application. Where the site is operational and the fence is genuinely needed for security, that application is usually straightforward — it just needs allowing for in the programme.
Frequently asked questions
- How high can a fence be without planning permission?
Generally up to 2m, measured from the higher ground level and including anything mounted on top. Where the fence adjoins a highway used by vehicles, the limit drops to 1m. Conservation areas, listed buildings and covenants can lower it further.
- Does razor wire on top count towards the fence height?
Yes. The measurement is to the top of everything on the fence, so a 2m fence with a razor wire topping is over 2m and needs permission.
- Which fence is mine, the left or the right?
Neither, as a general rule — that is a common myth. Ownership comes from the title deeds and the Land Registry plan. Where those are silent, the boundary is usually treated as shared, and it is worth agreeing in writing with your neighbour before starting.