Carport or Canopy Planning Permission

Do you need planning permission for a carport or canopy?

Carport and canopy planning permission guidelines are relatively easy to understand and we are here to help where we can. Using our years of experience we can help you make sure that erecting a carport or canopy is straightforward.

Carport Planning Permission

Carports and canopies come under the same umbrella as outbuildings, so dependant upon a few rules you may not need to gain planning permission from your local planning authority. This allows the home owner to erect a carport or canopy under permitted development.

A carport or canopy is best described as a roof, supported by posts. As with any potential home improvement or alteration, there are always limitations, even more so if your house is listed or in a conservation area.

We want to ensure that you are fully aware of these limitations and have created a quick key-points-list of the main factors to be taken into consideration when installing a carport. Even if your proposed canopy falls within one or more of the following limitations we are able to help and support you make the application for permission.

Carport Canopy Planning Limitations

Before you go ahead and build your carport, you should first understand what the limitations are for permitted development. If you are planning to build a carport, you are free to do so, providing you follow the limitations set forth by your Local Planning Authority.

Planning permission IS required if your canopy fits into one or more of the following statements:

  • A carport or canopy can not be built on land forward of a wall forming the principal elevation.
  • Carports and canopies are to be single storey with maximum eaves height of 2.5 metres and maximum overall height of four metres with a dual pitched roof or three metres for any other roof. This means three metres total height for our curved roof.
  • There is a maximum height of 2.5 metres in the case of a carport or canopy that is built within two metres of a boundary of the curtilage of the dwelling-house.
  • No more than half the area of land around the “original house” would be covered by additions or other buildings.
  • In National Parks, the Broads, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and World Heritage Sites the maximum area to be covered by buildings, enclosures, containers and pools more than 20 metres from the house to be limited to 10 square metres.
  • On designated land carports and canopies at the side of properties will require planning permission.
  • Within the curtilage of listed buildings any carport or canopy will require planning permission.

Planning permission and permitted development is sometimes subjective and it is 100% the responsibility of the property owner to ensure that the correct permission has been obtained. Our technical team and surveyors can give you an opinion on permitted development based on experience and the rules but ultimately the final decision is the with the Local Planning Authority and the owner of the property.

Want to discuss your carport canopy project? Call our carport canopy team on 01543 543 007.

More information on GOV.UK -> Permitted development rights for householders: technical guidance