Do you need planning permission for doors?

If your front door is in an awkward position that you want to change, such as moving the door from the back of the house to the front or the side - can you do that?

If changing your door involves more than a lick of new paint, do you need planning permission to do that?

Can you have a glass front door?

Do you need planning permission for bi-fold doors?

We've created the following guide that outlines what are the permitted development rights for doors, including the most common question we get asked about installing a new door.

We recommend that you always speak to your local planning office before starting any work.

Do I need planning permission to move my front door? (Updated for 2023)

Simply, your front door DOESN'T need planning permission if it falls within your permitted development rights, and that includes:

• Painting your front door and minor improvements (for example, a new letterbox)
• Changing your front door for one of a similar size and style to the original door when the house was built

In some cases, you DO need planning permission if you want to move the position of your front door.

If you're thinking of adding a new porch to your front door, you DON'T need planning permission, as long as it's less than three metres of floor space.

Do I need planning permission to paint my front door?

You DON'T need planning permission to paint your front door.

But, if you live in a listed building or in a designated area, you'll have to check with the governing authority as there may be a restriction on the colour or style of door that you can have.

Some property developments that are leasehold may have a covenant in the lease that states you can't make any changes to the exterior of the property, such as changing the style of windows or the colour the door and windows are painted. You would need permission from the property management company before making changes.

Do I need planning permission for bi-fold doors, French doors or patio doors?

You DON'T need planning permission if you're simply replacing bi-fold doors or sliding doors in the same sized opening.

You DON'T need planning permission for bi-fold doors, French doors and sliding doors if you have to create a new opening in a wall or to replace a standard window or door IF it's to the rear of the house or the side not facing a road.

Installing new bi-fold doors, French doors and sliding doors falls within permitted development rights.

Whether you need planning permission or not, you DO need building regulations approval.

If you live in a listed building or in a designated area, you'll also need to check with your local authority to gain approval before you change doors or make a bigger opening.

Other restrictions that you need to check before moving a front door

Apart from the limitations from permitted development rights, there can also be restrictions from other areas that you need to be aware of if you are planning on changing your doors.

Article 4 Direction

A local council has the authority to override permitted development rights with an Article 4 Direction. Always check with your local planning office for any specific rulings and directives you need to know about.

Listed buildings

Owning a listed property means that you're tightly restricted with what you can do to develop your property. Any changes made will have to be in keeping with the style of the property and need listed building consent before any works can be undertaken. This might even extend to the colour you can paint your front door.

Designated land

Similar to a listed building, designated areas such as Conservation Areas, National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and World Heritage Sites all have restrictions to the development and appearance of properties.

If you want to make any changes, including the colour of your front door and windows, you'll have to seek approval from the relevant authority.

Leaseholders

If you live in a leasehold property, you may have clauses in the lease that restrict any development of the property, including how the external appearance is maintained. Blocks of apartments and property developments often have a clause that windows and doors have to be a specified colour to be in keeping with the other properties. Before you do any work, speak to your property management company and ask for their approval.

Restrictive covenants

Properties sometimes have a covenant placed on them by a previous owner to restrict any development of the house or land. Your solicitor will have notified you of this covenant when you completed the purchase. If in doubt, check with your solicitor but it is unlikely to affect the colour or style of a front door.

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