You've worked out that your project needs planning permission. Now you need to know what it'll cost. The fee depends on what type of application you're making - and many homeowners pay more than they need to because they don't know the cheaper alternatives exist.
The headline number: a standard householder planning application in England costs £548 from 1 April 2026. But depending on your project, you might need a Lawful Development Certificate (£274), a prior approval application (£249), or nothing at all.
If your project is permitted development, you pay nothing to the council. That's the point of checking first.
Planning fees in England are set nationally by the government, not by individual councils. From 1 April 2026, fees were increased by 3.8% in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI). This is the annual indexation mechanism introduced to keep fees aligned with inflation. The previous householder fee was £528 (set in December 2023); it's now £548.
Many websites still show the old figures. If you see a householder fee of £206, £234, or £528 quoted anywhere, it's out of date. The figures on this page are verified against the MHCLG published schedule effective 1 April 2026.
The £548 application fee is just the council's charge. The actual cost of getting planning permission includes the professional fees for the drawings and documents you need to submit. At a minimum, you'll need a site plan, floor plans, and elevations - prepared by an architect or architectural designer. For a straightforward householder application, expect to pay £1,500-3,000 for professional design and application preparation on top of the council fee.
For complex projects - listed buildings, sites in conservation areas, or schemes that need a Design and Access Statement, heritage assessment, or ecology survey - the professional costs can be significantly higher.
Then there's time. A householder application typically takes 8 weeks from validation to decision. If the council requests amendments or additional information, it takes longer. If the application is refused and you appeal, add another 6-12 months.
Think your project might be permitted development? A free eligibility check could save you the entire cost of a planning application.
If your project qualifies as permitted development, you don't need to submit any application and you pay no fee to the council. This is the single biggest saving available to homeowners - not just the £548 application fee, but the professional fees for preparing the application and the 8-week wait for a decision.
The key projects that are often PD include rear extensions within the depth limits, loft conversions within the volume limits, and outbuildings within the height and coverage limits. For full details on each, see our guides on extensions, loft conversions, and outbuildings.
Even if you qualify for PD, we recommend applying for a Lawful Development Certificate (£274) to have formal confirmation. It's optional, but it protects you when you sell. See our LDC guide.
Common mistakes that cost money
Applying for planning permission when the project is PD. If your extension is within the permitted development limits, you don't need to apply. Submitting a householder application costs £548 plus professional fees - money you didn't need to spend.
Using outdated fee figures. Fees change annually on 1 April. Many websites and even some architects quote old figures. The current householder fee is £548, not £206 or £528.
Not considering prior approval. If you want a deeper single storey rear extension (up to 8m detached, 6m semi/terrace), the prior approval route costs £249 - less than half the householder application fee and a much simpler process.
Forgetting that retrospective applications cost the same. If you've already built without permission, a retrospective application costs £548 - the same as applying before work starts. There's no penalty, but there's no discount either.
PD Assessment Tool
If your project qualifies as permitted development, you don't need to submit a planning application or pay the £548 fee. Our free eligibility check tells you whether your property and project type qualify - in about two minutes.
Free eligibility check. Full assessment £47.
Fee figures verified against the MHCLG published fee schedule effective 1 April 2026 (CPI indexation 3.8%). Previous fee schedule effective 6 December 2023 (SI 2023/1197). This page is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Fees apply to England only; Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland have different fee schedules.
April 2026