Permitted development rights allow certain building works and changes to a house in England to be carried out without applying for planning permission. The householder rights are in Schedule 2, Part 1 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (the GPDO), as amended. Each right is called a Class and comes with limits and conditions. This guide reflects the Order as checked on legislation.gov.uk on 2 November 2026. It covers England only. Permitted development is separate from building regulations approval, which most extensions still need.
Step 1: does the house have permitted development rights?
- Is it a house? Part 1 rights apply to dwellinghouses. Flats and maisonettes do not have Part 1 rights.
- Has the house been created by certain changes of use? Houses created under some other permitted development rights do not benefit from Part 1.
- Have the rights been removed? A planning condition or an Article 4 direction made by the local planning authority can remove permitted development rights.
- Is it a listed building? Listed building consent is needed for works affecting a listed building's character, regardless of planning permission.
- Is it on article 2(3) land? This includes conservation areas, National Parks, the Broads, National Landscapes (Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty) and World Heritage Sites. Several Classes are restricted or unavailable there.
Step 2: what type of work is it?
Single-storey rear extension (Class A)
Permitted development if, among other limits, it extends no more than 4 m beyond the rear wall of the original house for a detached house, or 3 m for any other house, and is no more than 4 m high. Within 2 m of a boundary the eaves must not exceed 3 m.
Larger home extension (Class A, prior approval)
A single-storey rear extension of up to 8 m (detached) or 6 m (other houses) is possible through the prior approval process, but not on article 2(3) land or a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The local planning authority notifies neighbours, and if anyone objects it considers the impact on amenity. Work may start once the authority confirms prior approval is not required or is given, or after 42 days without a decision.
Side extensions and extensions of more than one storey (Class A)
A side extension must be single-storey, no more than 4 m high and no wider than half the width of the original house. An extension of more than one storey must not extend more than 3 m beyond the rear wall and must be at least 7 m from the rear boundary, with further conditions.
Additional storeys (Class AA)
Class AA, added in August 2020, allows up to two additional storeys on a house of two or more storeys, or one on a single-storey house, subject to limits. The house must have been built between 1 July 1948 and 28 October 2018, must not be on article 2(3) land or a SSSI, and must not already have been extended upwards. The total height must not exceed 18 m. Prior approval is required before work starts, covering matters such as the amenity of neighbours and the external appearance.
Loft conversions and roof extensions (Class B)
Additions to the roof are limited to 40 cubic metres of extra roof space for a terraced house and 50 cubic metres for other houses. They must not extend beyond the plane of the principal roof slope facing a highway, must use similar materials, and side-facing windows must be obscure-glazed and non-opening below 1.7 m. Class B is not available on article 2(3) land.
Other householder Classes
- Class C: other alterations to the roof, such as rooflights.
- Class D: porches (ground area no more than 3 square metres and no part more than 3 m high).
- Class E: outbuildings and other buildings within the curtilage, with height and coverage limits.
- Class F: hard surfaces.
- Classes G and H: chimneys, flues and microwave antennas.
Step 3: the result
Each route ends at one of three answers: within permitted development limits, prior approval needed, or planning permission needed. A local planning authority can confirm the position formally through an application for a lawful development certificate.
Before starting any work, check the status of your project with your local planning authority and building control.
Sources
- GPDO 2015, Schedule 2, Part 1 (legislation.gov.uk)
- S.I. 2020/755 (Class AA)
- Permitted development rights for householders: technical guidance (GOV.UK)
- Building regulations approval (GOV.UK)
Templates for this task
- Permitted Development Decision Flow (England) – £2.50
- Extension Building Regs Checklist (Approved Documents A, B, F, L, M) – £2.50
- Loft Conversion Checklist (structure, fire safety, stairs, insulation) – £2.50
- Completion Certificates & Sale Evidence Tracker – £2.50
Check before use – not legal advice. This guide states the law and official guidance as facts, in our own words, as checked on 2 November 2026. It does not replace professional advice on a specific matter. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.