A lawful development certificate, sometimes called a permitted development certificate, is a formal council decision about whether specified development or use is lawful. For work you have not started, the relevant application is a certificate for a proposed use or development.
It is not the same as planning permission or building regulations approval. This guide covers England.
Do you need a certificate for permitted development?
Applying is optional, but a certificate can provide formal certainty about the scheme described in it. An informal opinion or an online check is not a certificate.
The council considers lawfulness, rather than the planning merits of the design. A proposal cannot exceed permitted development limits simply because it would be unlikely to harm neighbours.
See the government's lawful development certificate guidance.
What information should you prepare?
The application must describe the proposal precisely and provide enough information for the council to decide it. Plans, dimensions and evidence about the property's history may be important. Check the authority's application requirements for your particular scheme.
For your own project folder, gather the address, earlier decision notices, existing drawings and a clear description of what you intend to change. Identify unknowns rather than guessing measurements or assuming earlier work was lawful.
Our project guides help you identify the questions to investigate:
- Rear extension routes and limits.
- Loft conversion permitted development.
- Outbuilding and garden room permitted development.
What does it cost?
The council charges an application fee. Drawing or professional fees are separate. Confirm the current charge for the application type with your authority before submitting; an existing-development certificate and a proposed-development certificate are different applications.
See our drawing service prices and approval terms. Agree the scope and application route before instructing paid work.
What if the certificate is refused?
Refusal does not itself establish that planning permission would be refused. It may reflect insufficient evidence or failure to meet the legal tests. Read the council's reasons before deciding whether to provide further evidence, change the proposal or pursue another route.
A certificate relates to what it actually describes. If you change the design, check whether that changes the position before building.
Find the right next step
Find your planning authority and register, or start a free property check to explore the route for your project.
For the wider picture, read our permitted development overview. Keep the certificate, approved plans and supporting evidence together in your property records.