Warning: How you could commit an offence with your fence!

UK homeowners risk being hit with fines of up to £5,000 for breaching garden fence regulations that are now in force.

Changes implemented in May have seen “The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015” receive significant updates. These amendments have streamlined regulations surrounding boundary replacements, hedge alterations, or the installation of new fencing.

A legal expert previously warned: “If you’re thinking of putting up a new garden fence this summer, there are a few important things to bear in mind to make sure you don’t break any laws and find yourself landed with a fine.”

Rear boundaries are permitted to have fencing reaching up to two metres in height (approximately six foot six) without requiring planning consent, reports Birmingham Live. Without proper planning approval, your fence cannot exceed two metres from ground level.

Go any higher, even with a decorative trellis, and you’ll need to get approval first.

At the front of the building, fences can’t go above one metre if you live next to a footpath, road or public space. That’s just over three feet tall.

Mark Andrew Woodman, Which?’s senior legal adviser, previously recommended examining title deeds to determine which property holds primary responsibility for the fence – and making inquiries about who originally erected it.

Certain circumstances will also require planning consent if the fence exceeds one metre in height – particularly when it borders a highway or highway footpath. If you’re uncertain, it’s advisable to contact your local planning authority, typically your local council, for clarification.

Should your fence result in a statutory nuisance, such as causing flooding or obstructing drains, you could be hit with fines up to £5,000. Failure to pay these fines could even land you in court.