Householder Planning Application Fee in England (2026)
A householder planning application covers work to an existing single dwellinghouse, such as an extension or an alteration. In England, the statutory fee for this type of application is £548 from 1 April 2026.
The amount is fixed. It does not change because an extension is larger, more expensive, or on a particular street. The important question is whether the proposal fits the householder category.
What counts as a householder application?
The category normally covers an enlargement, improvement, or alteration to one dwellinghouse. A rear extension, side extension, loft alteration, or internal change that needs planning permission may fall into this category.
It does not normally cover a new dwelling, a separate flat, or development involving two or more dwellinghouses. Those proposals use different fee categories and may be charged by dwelling, floorspace, or site area.
When the £548 fee does not apply
Some work does not need a planning application because it is permitted development. That is a planning question, not a fee exemption. If permission is not needed, there is no planning application fee, although a Lawful Development Certificate may be useful if you need formal confirmation.
A detached outbuilding or boundary work may also fall into a different category. If the project includes more than one kind of development, the council may need to assess the categories together.
What the fee covers
The statutory fee is paid to the Local Planning Authority for processing and deciding the application. It does not cover drawings, surveys, building regulations, or an online submission charge. Those are separate costs.
Before you submit
Check the council’s local validation checklist before sending the application. A correct fee is necessary, but it is only one part of a valid submission. If the council cannot validate the application, it must deal with the fee under the regulations, and the application may need to be corrected and resubmitted.
Use the calculator for an estimate, then confirm the category and final amount with the relevant authority.
Source: GOV.UK planning fee guidance. This page was reviewed on 18 September 2026.
Three quick classification tests
- Existing home: Is the proposal for enlarging, improving, or altering one existing dwellinghouse?
- No separate dwelling: Does the work avoid creating a new dwelling or a separate flat?
- Single route: Is the proposal really householder work, rather than prior approval, a lawful development certificate, or another application type?
If any answer is uncertain, do not force the project into the fixed householder fee. Describe the proposal to the authority and check the relevant route.
Examples that are easy to misclassify
A rear or side extension to one home may be householder work. Converting a house into flats, creating a new dwelling in an outbuilding, or combining development types can require a different category. An application that does not need permission may still involve a Lawful Development Certificate if formal confirmation is needed.
Submission checklist
- Confirm whether permission is required.
- Check the application form’s description matches the drawings.
- Check the local validation list.
- Separate the statutory fee from online charges and other professional costs.
- Keep the fee calculation and source date with your application records.
Use the calculator for an estimate, then read the methodology and confirm the amount with the Local Planning Authority.
What makes a classification defensible?
A defensible fee selection is based on the proposal as a whole, not on the cheapest familiar label. Compare the description, plans, number of homes, intended use, and application form. If one part of the proposal points to a different route, ask the authority before submitting.
Questions visitors often overlook
Does the size of an extension set the fee? Not automatically for a fixed householder category; the category and facts of the proposal matter more than construction cost. Does permitted development mean there is never a fee? A planning application may not be needed, but a certificate or another application can still have a fee. Is an online total always the statutory fee? No; separate online charges and VAT may appear.
Source trail
Read the current GOV.UK fees guidance and the 2012 Regulations as amended. For the permission question, see GOV.UK permission guidance.