Permitted development in East Dorset

Guidance and how to apply

Certain development can be carried out without formal planning consent. This is known as 'permitted development'. Development proposals are only permitted development if they meet the exact requirements set out in The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 (as amended).

Please be aware that planning law enables permitted development rights to be withdrawn or modified. East Dorset has a high level of environmental protection together with other constraints so an assumed permitted development right may in fact no longer exist. Please do not rely on informal advice from a friend or a professional, who may not be aware of any particular restrictions in your property's area.

Checking if you need permission

Since 1 October 2008, when new rules were introduced in relation to householder permitted development rights, we have been unable to provide an informal opinion as to whether your proposal requires planning permission, other than in very general terms or unless it is obvious at the outset.

You are welcome to e-mail or write to us to clarify whether any permitted development rights have been removed from a specific property.

The following table directs you to the relevant legislation for different development types. If you can not find reference to your proposed development in the legislation then it will require planning permission.

Proposed development	Relevant legislation/Technical guidance
Works to your home or in your garden (including extensions, garages, sheds)	Technical guidance- Permitted development for householders (opens in a new window) Legislation- The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Amendment) (No. 2) (England) Order 2008 (opens in a new window)
Domestic microgeneration equipment (including solar panels, heat pumps) for houses and flats	Legislation- Domestic Microgeneration Permitted Development (PDF, 1Mb) (opens in a new window)
Other development (including fences, change of use, agricultural development and industrial extensions)	Please note that the following legislation has subsequently been heavily amended. Please contact us for more details. The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 (opens in a new window)
Advertisements	Advertisements do not benefit from permitted development rights but are dealt with by alternative legislation. Please contact us for more details.

If you believe that your proposal meets the relevant permitted development criteria then we would advise you to submit an application for a Lawful Development Certificate for a Proposed Use or Development. The application will determine whether planning permission is required helping you to avoid a breach of planning control and problems later when attempting to sell the property. The Certificates are legally binding and a formal route of appeal exists if you disagree with the determination given. Application forms can be downloaded from East Dorset Planning Application Forms. This application costs half the fee of an equivalent planning application.

If you believe that your proposal does not meet the permitted development criteria then you may wish to submit your plans to the planning department for an informal comment prior to submitting a formal planning application.