Attach something to or alter the outside of your house

At some point, you may want to add something to your house that has to fit on the outside. If you want to do this, check to see if you need to apply for planning permission.

This guidance only applies if your home is a dwellinghouse. This means it's a house you live in and is not used for business purposes.

Permitted development

You can make many minor changes to the outside of your home without planning permission.

If the additions or improvements meet a set of rules, you do not need to apply for it. This is called 'permitted development'.

Additions are permitted as long as they do not reach out more than a metre from where it's attached on your home.

These include:

replacement windows
solar panels
satellite dishes
flues (exhaust pipes)

You also have to make sure that any materials you use for roof coverings look similar to the existing roof.

Read the Householder permitted development rights guidance on gov.scot. It explains what you can build without applying for planning permission.

Some additions do not count as permitted development even if they stay within a metre of your home. You will need to apply for planning permission for:

balconies
roof terraces
raised platforms
wind turbines
any additions if your home is in a conservation area

There are also some additions are permitted development, but have different requirements. These include:

a flue forming part of a biomass heating system
a flue forming part of a combined heat and power system
an air source heat pump
CCTV

Find out more about these requirements in the Householder permitted development rights guidance on gov.scot.

Planning permission

If what you want to add to your house is not permitted development, you must apply for planning permission.

Find out how to apply for planning permission. You can also contact your local council for further information.

Planning permission

Always check with your council to confirm if you need planning permission. Even if you meet the permitted development rules, there might be other approvals you'll need to get.

Other approvals

You may need other approvals before starting work. For example, your local council might ask for building regulation approval.

If you do not own the land, you must get the landowner’s permission (for example, if you’re a tenant or share ownership).

If your home is a listed building, you’ll also need listed building consent.

It’s your responsibility to make sure you have all the approvals you need.

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Information

Permitted development

Planning permission

Other approvals