EV Charger Planning Permission: Do You Need It in England?

When Can an EV Charger Be Installed Without Planning Permission?

The relevant permitted development rights in England are contained in Part 2 of Schedule 2 to the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015, as amended. They cover certain EV charging outlets and charging upstands installed within areas lawfully used for off-street parking.

For many homeowners, this means a charger mounted beside a private driveway or another established off-street parking space can be installed without submitting a planning application, provided the installation stays within the limits set by the Order.

The planning position should be confirmed before choosing the final charger position where the property has unusual restrictions, heritage status or no private off-street parking.

Current Rules for Wall-Mounted and Freestanding EV Chargers

Wall-mounted charging outlets and freestanding charging upstands are covered by different permitted development classes. The distinction matters because their size and installation limits are not the same.

These planning limits deal with the physical development. They do not determine whether the electrical supply, consumer unit, protective arrangements or proposed cable route are suitable for the charger.

The EV Charger Planning Rule That Changed in May 2025

Some older EV charger guidance says that permitted development does not apply where a wall-mounted charger faces onto and is within two metres of a highway. The same two-metre restriction previously applied to charging upstands.

That information is now outdated for England. The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) (Amendment) Order 2025 came into force on 29 May 2025 and removed the two-metre highway restriction from Classes D and E.

The same amendment also increased the permitted maximum height of a Class E upstand outside the curtilage of a dwellinghouse or block of flats from 2.3 metres to 2.7 metres. The residential 1.6-metre limit remains.

When Might Planning Permission or a Local Planning Check Be Needed?

Permitted development should not be assumed simply because the proposed charger is small. A planning application or further confirmation may be needed where the proposal falls outside the relevant permitted development conditions.

Examples include situations where:

• the proposed wall-mounted outlet and casing exceed the permitted size limit;
• a residential charging upstand exceeds the permitted 1.6-metre height;
• the charger would be within the curtilage of a listed building;
• the development would be within a site designated as a scheduled monument;
• the relevant permitted development rights have been removed or restricted locally; or
• the proposed arrangement does not fall within an area lawfully used for off-street parking.

A local planning authority can restrict specified permitted development rights through an Article 4 Direction. GOV.UK's permitted development guidance for householders advises checking with the local planning authority where such restrictions may apply.

Being in a conservation area does not by itself mean every EV charger requires a planning application, but local restrictions and the property's individual status should be checked before installation.

What About Flats, Leasehold Homes and Rental Properties?

Planning permission is only one part of the decision. A leaseholder or tenant may still need the consent of a landlord, freeholder or another party before equipment is fixed to a building or cables are routed through land or communal areas.

This becomes particularly relevant where the parking space is allocated but the wall, car park, electrical supply route or communal land is not solely controlled by the person requesting the charger.

Before arranging the installation, establish who owns or controls the proposed mounting position, parking space and cable route. That avoids treating permitted development rights as permission to carry out work on property controlled by someone else.

Planning Permission Is Separate from Building Regulations

A charger being permitted development does not mean that every other installation requirement has automatically been satisfied. Planning controls deal with the development itself; Building Regulations and electrical installation requirements are separate considerations.

The Government publishes Approved Document S guidance on electric vehicle charging infrastructure for the situations covered by Part S of the Building Regulations in England.

For the distinction between the planning question and Building Regulations, see whether Building Regulations apply to an EV charger. Keeping the two questions separate helps prevent a planning exemption from being mistaken for approval of the electrical work itself.

What Should Be Checked Before the Charger Is Installed?

Once the planning position is clear, the next step is to assess the proposed installation rather than choosing a wall position in isolation. The parking space, charger position and electrical route need to work together.

A pre-installation assessment may consider:

• the location of the private parking space;
• where the charger can be mounted safely and practically;
• the cable route between the electrical supply and charging point;
• the existing electrical supply and available capacity;
• the consumer unit and protective arrangements; and
• any landlord, freeholder or site-specific permissions that affect the proposed route.

Charger positioning has practical consequences beyond planning. Our guide to choosing the best location for a home EV charger covers that decision in more detail.

Where the property is ready to move from planning checks to installation, an EV charger installation assessment can establish the electrical supply, charger location and cable route before work begins.