PRACTICAL ADVICE FOR CAT OWNERS

Cat Fence Planning Permission UK: The 2m Rule (Explained)

You want your cat to enjoy the garden safely. Before choosing a cat fence, there are two things to check: how high the finished boundary will be and where it sits.

Understanding those details makes it easier to choose a system that works for your garden, without having to change it after installation.

Published

Cats Secure By Cat Fence Barrier in Garden

THE SHORT ANSWER

What you need to know

In England, planning permission is required above 2m on most boundaries, or above 1m next to a highway used by vehicles, including the footpath alongside it. [1] [2]

A cat fence fixed to your boundary still needs to follow the height rules. Calling it “temporary” does not change that. [2] [4]

Installing above the limit without permission can lead to enforcement action, including being required to alter or remove the installation. [3] [6]

The useful question is not simply whether a system can be removed. It is how the system is installed and how high your boundary will be once it is fitted.

On this page

FIXED OR TEMPORARY?

Does a “temporary” cat fence avoid planning rules?

No. If a cat fence is fixed to your boundary, describing it as temporary does not exempt it from the fence height rules. [2] [4]

Those rules cover gates, fences, walls and “other means of enclosure”. A cat fence extension bolted to the top of a boundary forms part of that enclosure. [2]

Being removable is not the same as being temporary. Planning considerations include size, permanence and physical attachment. Permanence does not have to mean forever: something installed for ongoing use is different from a short-lived, pop-up structure. [4]

This applies to Safe Whiskers too. Our system is screwed into timber posts or fitted to concrete posts using drilled holes and plugs. It is a fixed installation, so the finished boundary height matters. [5] [2]

When comparing systems, look at the installation and total height rather than relying on the word “temporary”.

THE HEIGHT RULE

What are the height limits?

For England, the limits are: [1] [2]

England boundary-height rules
Where the boundary sitsHeight limit
Next to a highway used by vehicles, or the footpath alongside it1m
Elsewhere, including most garden boundaries2m

Height is measured from ground level. Planning permission is required when the finished boundary exceeds the relevant limit, so include the cat fence extension in your measurements. [1] [2]

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have different planning systems. Do not assume the rules for England apply word for word. [6]

IF THE LIMIT IS IGNORED

What happens without planning permission?

A complaint can lead to a council investigation. Where the council considers enforcement appropriate, you may be required to alter or remove the installation. [3] [6]

  1. A complaintA concern is raised about the boundary.
  2. Council investigationThe council investigates the installation.
  3. Required action or enforcementYou may be required to fix the issue.

If an enforcement notice is served, failing to comply when no appeal is running is an offence. [3]

There is also the practical cost. You could pay to install a system, then pay again to reduce its height, rework it or remove it. Checking the measurements before you buy helps you make the decision at the right stage.

MAKE A PLAN

How to choose a system for your garden

  1. Measure your existing fence

    Measure from ground level at several points, especially where the ground slopes. Do not rely on an estimate or a single measurement.

    Also identify any section next to a highway used by vehicles, or the footpath alongside it, where the 1m limit applies. [1] [2]

  2. Work out the finished height

    Consider the existing fence and the cat fence system together.

    Keeping the finished boundary within 2m, or 1m where relevant, avoids taking it above the height limit. If your chosen design needs to exceed that limit, plan for a planning application before installation. [2]

  3. Look at the overhang, not just the height

    A good cat fence works by making the top difficult to climb and impossible to vault. That does not have to mean turning your garden boundary into a 2.4m fence.

    An inward overhang provides containment through the shape of the barrier rather than extreme height. This is the approach used by Safe Whiskers and the reason it is worth comparing how a system works, not simply how tall it is. [5]

  4. Check what the installation involves

    A system screwed or drilled into posts is a fixed alteration to the boundary.

    If you rent or your property is leasehold, get permission from the landlord or freeholder before making those changes. [5] [7]

Garden boundary measuring guide showing where to record fence lengths and changes in height
Measure your boundary from ground level at more than one point.

COMPARE YOUR OPTIONS

How the main cat fence options compare

OptionBest forWhy or what to watch
2m or below fence-top systems with an inward overhang See the kit →

These suit most typical UK gardens.

They are designed to provide containment through an inward overhang rather than a much taller boundary.

Safe Whiskers follows this approach, with a system that fixes to your existing fence posts. When considering it for your garden, check the height of your current fence and the height added by the system together. [5] [2]
Roller or rotating toppers

These add relatively little height, making them an option where the existing fence is already close to 2m.

You still need to measure carefully. Even a small addition can take the finished boundary above the limit. [2]
Catios and enclosed runs

These can be an option for renters or gardens where altering a shared boundary is difficult.

They do not extend the boundary fence height, although very large structures can have their own planning considerations. [8]
Tall perimeter systems above 2m

These are an option when you are prepared to go through the planning process.

If the system is fixed and exceeds the relevant height limit, describing it as temporary does not remove the need for permission. [2] [4]

COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently asked questions

Does a cat fence extension count towards fence height?

Treat it as part of the total height if it increases the boundary’s means of enclosure. The rules cover more than the original fence panels, so measure the finished installation rather than the fence alone. [2]

Does being able to remove it make it temporary?

No. Being removable is not enough on its own. A system that is physically attached to the fence and intended for ongoing use should not be treated as exempt simply because it could be taken down later. [4]

What if my fence is already over 2m?

An existing fence above the height limit cannot simply be increased further under permitted development. Its current height does not give you permission to add more. [1] [2]

Can I install first and apply afterwards?

You may be invited to submit a retrospective application, but enforcement action remains possible. Failing to comply with an enforcement notice when no appeal is running is an offence. [3]

It is better to work out whether permission is needed before you commit to the installation.

Sources

The numbered references in the article open the relevant source. Planning and property guidance is listed separately from Safe Whiskers product information.

  1. Planning Portal: Fences, gates and garden walls: Planning permission

    Fence height limits, measurement from ground level and alterations to an existing fence already above the limit.

  2. Legislation.gov.uk: The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015

    Schedule 2, Part 2, Class A: gates, fences, walls and other means of enclosure. See A and A.1(a)-(c).

  3. GOV.UK: Enforcement and post-permission matters

    Paragraphs 003, 012 and 022 cover enforcement discretion, retrospective applications and non-compliance with an enforcement notice.

  4. The Planning Inspectorate: Appeal decisions: land to the west of Garr Lane, Torver, Coniston

    1 September 2022. Appeals APP/Q9495/C/21/3288063, 3288064, 3288066 and 3288067. Paragraphs 14-20 (pages 4-5) discuss size, permanence and physical attachment. This is a general planning example, not a cat-fence appeal.

  5. GOV.UK: Planning permission: When you need it

    Links to the planning systems in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, with an overview of applications and enforcement.

  6. GOV.UK: Leasehold property: Leaseholder rights and responsibilities

    The lease sets out the conditions for making alterations, including whether permission is needed.

  7. Planning Portal: Outbuildings: Planning permission

    Planning guidance for garden buildings and enclosures, including their separate limits and conditions.

Product information

  1. Safe Whiskers: DIY cat fence kits for UK gardens

    Product information on the inward overhang, timber and concrete-post fixings, and asking the property owner before drilling.

The product comparisons are Safe Whiskers’ editorial guidance. The external planning sources do not assess or endorse the systems discussed.

YOUR GARDEN, YOUR CAT

More freedom does not have to mean a taller fence

The aim is to give your cat a secure garden, not simply build the highest boundary possible.

Safe Whiskers uses an inward overhang rather than relying on extreme height. Once you have measured your fence, take a look at how the system fits and compare it with the space you have available. [5]

See how Safe Whiskers fits your fence Measure your boundary →