Homeowners with garden fences told to 'contact council' or risk £20k fine
UK homeowners with garden fences could be slapped with hefty £20,000 fines for a common blunder following new regulations. The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 has recently updated guidelines for households.
Which? legal expert Gurpreet Chhokar warned: "If you're thinking of putting up a new garden fence this summer, there are a few important things to bear in mind to make sure you don't break any laws and find yourself landed with a fine." Gurpreet advised: "If you don't have planning permission then your fence can't be any higher than two metres from the ground."
While rear garden fences can stand at two metres, stricter rules apply to front garden barriers, reports Birmingham Live. Front garden fences must not exceed one metre - just over three feet - according to the new guidance.
Gurpreet further explained: "There will also be some cases where planning permission will be needed if the fence is more than a meter high - such as if it borders a highway or the footpath of a highway if you're not sure, then it's worth getting in touch with your local planning authority (which is usually your local council) to check."
Before making alterations or enhancements to your property, it's crucial to determine whether planning permission is required. Proceeding without the necessary permissions could result in being forced to revert any changes made.
Jimmy Englezos, from Ronseal, warned: "If it's your neighbour who owns the fence, you must seek permission from them before making any changes to your property's side of the fence, this includes hanging fairy lights, drilling holes or growing vertical plants.
"Similarly, if you want to lean something against the fence or grow plants next to it that may make contact with the fence, you have to seek permission from the owners first as it could cause damage."
He further warns: "If you own the fence, you can decorate the space however you like, as long as it doesn't place your neighbour or their property at risk."
And don't forget, causing a statutory nuisance with your fence, like flooding or blocked drains, might hit you with fines up to £5,000 – or even £20,000 if you're running a business.
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