Do you need planning permission for a new roof?

For most homes, replacing a roof covering like for like is permitted development and needs no planning application. The exceptions matter, though, and getting it wrong can mean being made to undo the work.

Usually no permission needed

• Replacing tiles or slates with a similar material and colour.
• Re-roofing with modern underlay, battens and ventilation.
• Replacing a felt flat roof with EPDM or GRP of a similar appearance.
• New fascias, soffits and guttering.

Permission or consent often needed

• Listed buildings. Listed building consent is required for almost any change to the roof, including the material.
• Conservation areas and Article 4 directions. Common across Surrey, Richmond, Kingston, Wandsworth and Winchester. Changing from slate to concrete tile, or altering the appearance, can need permission.
• Changing the roof shape: raising the ridge, adding dormers, converting hips to gables.
• Raising the roof height by more than 150 mm, which can happen when thick insulation is added over the rafters.
• Flats and leasehold properties, where the freeholder's consent is usually needed whatever planning says.

Building Regulations are separate

Even where planning is not needed, re-covering more than 25% of a roof is "building work" and must meet Building Regulations for thermal performance and structural adequacy. In practice this means topping up loft insulation and notifying building control, which a CompetentRoofer-registered contractor can self-certify.

What we do

We check whether your property is listed or in a conservation area as part of the survey and tell you what applies before you commit. Where consent is needed, we specify materials that will be approved.