Building Regulations: General Information | Fences, gates and garden walls | Planning Portal 20/02/2017, 7:01 AM

Fences, gates and garden walls

Building Regulations: General Information

Fences, walls and gates do not require building regulation approval.

Although building regulations do not apply, the structures must be structurally sound and maintained.

Garden Walls
If the garden wall is classes as a 'party fence wall', and depending on the type of building work you
intend to carry out, then you must notify the adjoining owner of the work in respect of the Party Walls
Act etc 1996. This does not include wooden fences.

Guidance on the Party Walls Act etc 1996 is available on Gov.uk

Garden and boundary walls should be inspected from time to time to see if any repairs are necessary,
or whether a wall needs rebuilding. Such walls are amongst the most common forms of masonry to
suer collapse, and they are unfortunately one of the commonest causes of death by falling masonry.
Your insurances may not cover you if the wall has been neglected.

Besides the general deterioration and ageing of a masonry wall over the years, walls may be aected
by:

An increase in wind load or driving rain if a nearby wall is taken down.

Felling of nearby mature trees or planting of new trees close to the wall.
Changes leading to greater risk of damage from trac.
Alterations, such as additions to the wall or removal of parts of the wall e.g. for a new gateway.

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Safe heights for walls of dierent thicknesses

You are advised to seek expert advice on the safety of any wall which exceeds the height limits given
below for your area of the UK.

In very sheltered situations and where piers have been used taller walls may be acceptable.

Zone 1 Zone 2 Zone 3 Zone 4

Max. Max. Max Max.

Wall Wall Wall Wall
Height Height Height Height
Thickness Thickness Thickness Thickness
(mm) (mm) (mm) (mm)

Brick 525 Brick 450 Brick 400 Brick 375

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1 Brick 1450 1 Brick 1300 1 Brick 1175 1 Brick 1075

1 Brick 2400 1 Brick 2175 1 Brick 2000 1 Brick 1825

100mm 100mm 100mm 100mm

450 400 350 325
Block Block Block Block

200mm 200mm 200mm 200mm

1050 925 850 775
Block Block Block Block

300mm 300mm 300mm 300mm

2000 1825 1650 1525
Block Block Block Block

1 = 100mm; 2 = 215mm; 3 = 325mm.

Disclaimer
This is an introductory guide and is not a denitive source of legal information.

This guidance relates to the planning regime for England. Policy in Wales may dier. If in doubt
contact your Local Planning Authority.

Read the full disclaimer here.

PortalPlanQuest is a joint venture between TerraQuest and the Department for Communities and Local
Government.

All content 2017 Planning Portal.

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