How high can I build a fence without planning permission?

Under permitted development in England, generally up to two metres — but only one metre where the fence, gate or wall adjoins a highway used by vehicles or a footpath alongside such a highway. Above those heights you need permission. The Planning Portal sets out the detail.

Does trellis on top count towards the height?

Yes. The limit applies to the whole structure, so trellis, a top rail or a capping all count. Adding trellis to a two-metre fence takes it over the permitted height as well as increasing the wind load on the posts.

When do the normal height rules not apply?

Where permitted development rights have been removed or restricted — a listed building or a boundary within its curtilage, an Article 4 direction, or a planning condition on the original permission for the estate. Your local planning authority can confirm all three, and it is worth asking before building.

What if it is my neighbour's hedge blocking the light, not a fence?

That is a different regime. Part 8 of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 lets you complain to the council about an evergreen or semi-evergreen hedge over two metres that is unreasonably affecting your enjoyment of your property, after you have tried to resolve it directly.

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Updated 30 August 2026

Fence Too High Or Blocking A View

A fence has been built taller than you expected — or you want to raise yours — and you are not sure what height is allowed.

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Fencing and gate work, illustrative image

What's happening?

Fence height is a permitted development question, and the rule that surprises people is that the limit is lower next to a road. Under permitted development in England, a fence, gate or wall can generally be put up to two metres high, but where it is adjacent to a highway used by vehicles — or a footpath alongside such a highway — that limit drops to one metre. Above those heights you need planning permission. Several things remove the permitted rights entirely, and they are exactly the situations people forget to check: a listed building or a wall or fence forming part of its curtilage, an Article 4 direction covering the area, and a planning condition on the original permission for the estate. Trellis counts towards the height. And if what is blocking your light is a hedge rather than a fence, that is a different regime with its own two-metre threshold and its own complaints process.

What usually causes it?

A fence built to two metres where it adjoins a highway used by vehicles and the limit is one metre
Trellis or a top rail added to an existing fence, taking the combined height over the limit
The ground level raised on one side, so the fence measures higher than it did when built
Permitted development rights removed by an Article 4 direction, a listed building, or a condition on the estate's planning permission
A fence replacing a lower one and built taller than the original without checking
A boundary structure that is actually a wall, which has the same height limits but different construction rules
Confusion over which side of the boundary the fence sits on, and therefore who needs the permission

Is it dangerous?

No physical danger, but there is real exposure. A fence built above the permitted height without permission can be the subject of enforcement action requiring it to be taken down or reduced, and a fence over one metre next to a road can also be a visibility issue at a driveway or junction. Raising a boundary fence where permitted development rights have been removed is the version that causes the most trouble, because owners often have no idea the rights were removed until someone tells them.

Can I fix it myself?

Establish three facts before doing anything. Measure the actual height from the ground level on the higher side, including any trellis, and note where the fence sits relative to the highway. Check whether the property is listed, whether there is an Article 4 direction, and whether the original planning permission for the estate carried any condition about boundary treatments — your local planning authority holds all three. And confirm which side of the boundary the fence is on. With those three, most height questions answer themselves, and you can ask the council directly if they do not.

When should you call a fencing and gate installer?

Call a fencing installer when you want to change a boundary's height and want it built to what is actually permitted, or when you need an existing fence reduced. A good installer will ask about the highway, listing and Article 4 questions before quoting. Where the dispute is with a neighbour over their fence or hedge, that is a matter for the two of you and, if it comes to it, the council — GOV.UK sets out the process for neighbour disputes, and hedges over two metres have their own formal complaint route.

What will the fencing and gate installer actually do?

Measure the existing height from the correct ground level, including trellis and any capping
Establish whether the boundary adjoins a highway used by vehicles, which changes the permitted height
Check whether permitted development rights apply, and advise where planning permission is needed before work starts
Reduce an over-height fence to the permitted line, re-capping and re-fixing the panels
Build a new boundary to the permitted height, with posts set to a depth suited to that height rather than to the previous fence
Advise on privacy options within the height limit, such as planting behind the fence rather than raising it

Frequently asked questions

We’re happy to answer all your questions.

Sources & References

Whose Fence Is It To RepairLow risk Fence Leaning After High WindsCaution Fence Panel Blown Out Of Its SlotsCaution

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