Find out if you need planning permission
Planning permission for business premises
Do I need planning permission to run my small business from my home?
You do not usually need planning permission if only part of your home is used for business purposes. The test that we use to decide if you need planning permission is whether the overall character of your home would change as a result of the business.
You might need to apply for planning permission to work from home if:
- your home is no longer used mainly as your private residence
- your business leads to a noticeable increase in traffic or people calling at your property
- your business involves any activities that are unusual in a residential area
- your business disturbs your neighbours at unreasonable hours or causes other nuisances such as noise or smells
The Planning Portal offers guidance on whether you need to apply for planning permission before starting a business from your home.
If you are still unsure, you can apply for pre-application advice to discuss your plans with us. If you have read the information above and are confident that you do not need planning permission to start a business from your home, you can apply for a Lawful Development Certificate to confirm this.
Do I need planning permission to short-term let my home?
You do not need to apply for planning permission to use an entire flat or house as a short-term term let if:
- you pay the Council Tax for the property
- each individual short term let is no more than 90 days
- the total number of holiday let days over the calendar year is no more than 90 days
You don't need planning permission if you let a room within your property whilst you are still living there permanently.
You will need to apply for full planning permission to use your flat or house as a short-term let if the total number of days will be more than 90 days in a calendar year.
Making changes to a business premises
You usually need planning permission to make a change to your business premises, including:
- extensions to a shop or office
- alterations to shop fronts
- installing external security shutters or grilles
- changes in the use of the land or buildings
If the property is a listed building (or part of), you must also apply for listed building consent for any internal or external alterations.
The Use Class Order (external website) was updated on 1 September 2020. Read the Planning Portal's guide on use classes (external website) for more information.
Below is our summary of the changes that came into force on 1 September 2020.
| Use Class | What is included | New use class from 1 September 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| Class A |
A1 - Shops A2 - Financial and Professional services A3 - Restaurants and Cafes A4 - Drinking Establishments A5 - Hot Food Takeaways |
Use class E |
| Class B |
B1 - Business |
Use class E |
| Class B |
B2 - General Industrial B8 - Storage or Distribution |
No change |
| Class C |
C1 - Hotels C2 - Residential Institutions C3 - Dwellinghouses C4 - Houses in Multiple Occupation |
No change |
| Class D |
D1 - Non-residential Institutions D2 - Assembly and Leisure |
Use classes E and F |
| Sui Generis |
'Sui generis' is a Latin term that, in this context, means ‘in a class of its own’. Certain uses are specifically defined and excluded from classification by legislation. |
No change |
Page last updated: 19 February 2024
