Do you need planning permission?
If you want to make changes to your home then planning permission may be required.
Do I need planning permission?
And don’t forget, you should also check if you need Building Regulations approval as well.
Do I need Building Regulations approval?
Planning advice if you want to make changes to your home
Our Planning department can provide pre-application advice on what needs permission when making changes to your home. For complex queries you should submit a Lawful Development Certificate.
We will set out if your proposal meets planning policy requirements, using the guidelines set out in our Householder's Guide: Design of Extensions and Alterations document.
Please include the following information in your request for advice:
- Contact details – your name, address, email and telephone number. If you are submitting on behalf of a client, please also include your client’s details.
- Your interest in the site – are you the owner, occupier, lessee, prospective purchaser or agent.
- Site location – full address, including postcode (if available).
- Description of the proposed development/planning enquiry – an outline of your proposal and any important aims or issues.
- Illustrative material – this can be in the form of photographs, sketches with dimensions or architectural plans.
Contact us for pre-application advice
Are your neighbours making changes to their home?
If you want to report or comment on works a neighbour is carrying out, you can either:
Find and comment on a planning application
or
Report work without permission
Planning fees
The planning portal has a helpful tool to work out how much your application will cost.
Planning fee calculator
Submitting your application
If you need to apply for permission to make changes to your home you can:
See our advice on how to submit a planning application (householders)
and
Track your application online when it has been submitted
Useful maps to help you with your application
We have collated a list of useful maps that will help you work out if different rules apply to your home, these include information on:-
- conservation areas,
- protected trees,
- flood areas,
- if your home has additional protection,
- or do different ‘permitted development’ rights apply to your home.
View useful planning maps
Householder planning FAQs
Show all questions
Do I need permission for a dropped kerb?
A dropped kerb, also often referred to as a vehicle crossing, is a section of pavement that allows vehicles to cross from the road to a driveway. You will need to obtain permission from Devon County Council to drop the kerb. Be aware that the pavement may need strengthening.
You'll also need planning permission if your dropped kerb:
- Leads directly onto a classified road (A, B or C),
- If the access is dangerous,
- Forms part of a larger development,
- Affects a listed building or conservation area.
You can check your road's classification on the Devon County Council Road Map.
Enter your postcode and click on the road's colour to see its classification. If it's an A, B or C road, you'll need both Householder Planning Permission and a license from Devon County Council.
Do I need planning permission for a Dormer extension?
You often don’t need planning permission for a loft conversion that involves a dormer extension, but there are a number of limitations, including the fact it should match the existing roof material. See Planning Permission - Loft conversion.
It is best to obtain a 'Lawful Development Certificate', as this will be required if you choose to sell your house.
How can I measure the volume of my roof or extension?
The Planning Portal has a useful volume calculator that can work out cubic metres of space for an extension or when making changes to the roof space.
Where can I get more information about 'permitted development rights' when making changes to my home?
Do I need permission to build a new outbuilding in my garden or substantially convert an existing one? What if I want to let this out?
This will depend on a number of factors, including where you live and what it is going to be used for. Please use the following guides to Annexes and Outbuildings.
What are the minimum space standards for rooms in a home?
This will depend on a number of factors, but as a minimum:
- a double bedroom should have a floor area of at least 11.5m2,
- and a single bedroom should be at least 7.5m2 and be no less than 2.15m wide.
For further advice see nationally described space standard.
I want to rent my house out to 3 or more lodgers – do I need planning permission?
In some parts of Exeter, this will require planning permission. For further advice see HMO guidance.
And don’t forget, also check if you need
Building Regulations approval.
I need to connect to a public sewer and deal with surface water run-off, what do I need to do?
For connections to the public sewer please see new sewer connection information from South West Water.
Surface water should be disposed according to the following hierarchy as far as possible, to help save water, reduce bills and reduce flood risk:
- Rainwater re-use (rainwater butts/slow draining planters).
- An adequate soakaway or other infiltration system.
- To a surface water body (e.g. an ordinary watercourse).
- To a surface water sewer, highway drain, or other drainage system.
- To a combined sewer.
Please see guidance on sustainable drainage options.
Please see pre-development services for surface water enquiries from South West Water or Pre Planning Point of Connection enquiries.
I live in a listed building, what changes can I make to it? and what permissions do I need?
All parts of a listed buildings are protected nationally, which means you will require consent to make changes both internally and externally. You may also need planning permission for the external changes. Please see our Listed Building pages for further advice
I live in a conservation area, are there additional restrictions on what I can do?
Historic buildings and features such as boundary walls are more strictly protected from demolition in conservation areas, and any new development in conservation areas is more tightly regulated. See our Heritage pages for further advise about conservation areas.
You will also need permission for any work to trees within conservation areas. See further advice about trees in conservation areas.
How can I find out who a landowner is?
For details about private land ownership, title deeds and title plans please search the Land Registry register.
