How tall is my garden fence allowed to be? Full laws explained to avoid £26,000 fine

AS BRITS continue to enjoy the summer sunshine many may be planning on catching up on some DIY in the garden. However, homeowners are being urged to be cautious over adding extra height to their garden fence. If you were to incur the maximum fines for all of the below, the total could reach an alarming £26,000 Credit: SWNS Failing to adhere to several rules around garden fences can land you with a hefty £26,000 fine. It’s important to note that planning regulations dictate that fences must be erected or modified within legal height limits. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Homeowners can, of course, make changes to their house and garden – but only within the strict limits set down in law. In the UK, the maximum height for a garden fence without needing planning permission is 2m. In addition to this, the maximum height is just 1m if it is next to a public road or footpath. While homeowners are under no obligation to repair their fences unless specified in their property deeds, if this causes damage to surrounding trees it can result in a fine of £20,000. If it’s because the height of the fence is above 2m, the fine rises by £1,000. Causing a nuisance to your neighbours, such as attempting to use a large fence to act as a shield to neighbours when lighting a bonfire, can add a further fine of £5,000. Most read in The Sun Matthew Harwood, home insurance expert at Confused.com, offers tips on how to approach disputes with neighbours. He said: “With neighbours living in such close proximity, it’s hard to avoid a bit of tension or dispute here and there. “But approaching it in the right way is key to ensuring you’re not damaging relationships even further, and keeping your neighbourhood a nice place to live. “If an issue arises, try approaching your neighbour directly to talk it out.” Comment now