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Do I need permission for decking or a patio?

A patio at ground level is generally exempt. Raised decking is treated more like a raised platform or terrace and can require permission, particularly where it is significantly above ground level and overlooks neighbouring property.

Ground level hard landscaping within your own garden does not usually constitute development requiring permission. The issue arises when the deck is raised enough to change what can be seen from it.

Surface water is a secondary consideration. Large impermeable patios can push runoff towards a neighbour or the public road, and permeable construction or a soakaway is the better approach.

Practical guidance

  • Keep decking low or set it back from boundaries
  • Consider privacy screening where it is raised
  • Fall the surface away from the house and neighbours
  • Maintain access to the damp proof course level of the wall

Sources

Last reviewed 28 August 2026. General information only — not legal or planning advice.

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