However, there are exceptions.

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The position can be different for:

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• listed buildings

• properties affected by an Article 4 Direction

• homes without off-street parking

• unusual or oversized charging equipment

• installations involving the public pavement or highway

• larger commercial charging schemes.

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The guidance on this page relates primarily to the planning system in England.

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EV charger permitted development

 

Domestic EV charging is covered by permitted development rights within Part 2 of the General Permitted Development Order.

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There are two common types of installation:

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Wall-mounted EV chargers

 

This is the type most homeowners will recognise.

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A charging unit is normally fixed to the wall of the house, garage or another suitable structure close to the parking space.

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For the installation to qualify under the relevant permitted development right, the electrical outlet and its casing must not exceed 0.2 cubic metres.

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The permitted development right does not apply where the charger is installed within the curtilage of a listed building or within a Scheduled Monument.

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For most ordinary houses with their own driveway, a small wall-mounted charger can therefore be relatively straightforward from a planning perspective.

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Freestanding EV charger posts

 

Not every charger needs to be fixed to a wall.

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Where the parking space is away from the house or garage, a charger can sometimes be installed on a freestanding upstand or charging post.

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For a charger within the curtilage of a house or block of flats, the upstand and charging equipment must not exceed 1.6 metres in height if it is to fall within the relevant permitted development limits.

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For qualifying installations in other locations, the height limit can be up to 2.7 metres.

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There must also generally be no more than one charging upstand for each parking space.

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Again, these rights do not apply within the curtilage of a listed building or within a Scheduled Monument.

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Do EV chargers beside a road need planning permission?

 

The planning rules for EV charging were relaxed in May 2025.

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Among the changes, previous distance restrictions affecting charging upstands close to highways were removed, making it easier for suitable chargers serving off-street parking to qualify as permitted development.

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This is particularly useful for houses where the driveway or parking space is immediately beside the pavement or road.

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However, there is an important distinction between a charger serving your own off-street parking space and a system intended to charge a vehicle parked on the public highway.

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What if you do not have a driveway?

 

This is where EV charger planning becomes more complicated.

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The normal domestic permitted development rights relate to charging equipment installed within an area lawfully used for off-street parking.

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If your vehicle is normally parked on the street, you should not assume that you can simply install a charger on the front of the house and run a cable across the pavement.

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Cross-pavement charging can involve:

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• planning considerations

• highway authority approval

• permission to alter the pavement

• safety and accessibility requirements

• local council policies.

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The government has consulted on introducing broader permitted development rights for cross-pavement charging solutions, but the proposals also recognise that local highway authority permission remains important because the pavement is public highway.

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Homeowners without off-street parking should therefore check the current position with their local authority before buying or installing equipment.

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Can you run an EV charging cable across the pavement?

 

Simply laying a charging cable across a public pavement is generally not an appropriate solution.

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Apart from the planning position, a cable crossing a pavement can create a trip hazard and interfere with accessibility.

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Some councils are introducing or trialling cross-pavement charging channels or gullies. These allow a charging cable to pass through a purpose-designed channel installed into the pavement.

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Where such systems are permitted, approval from the relevant highway authority may still be needed. Government proposals for wider permitted development rights have specifically retained the role of local authorities in approving pavement works.

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The rules and availability of these systems can therefore vary between council areas.

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EV chargers and conservation areas

 

Being in a conservation area does not necessarily mean that an EV charger cannot be installed.

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However, additional checks are sensible.

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Some properties in conservation areas are affected by Article 4 Directions, which can remove permitted development rights that would otherwise apply.

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Planning Portal therefore recommends checking with the local planning authority where a property is in a conservation area or another designated heritage location.

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The appearance and position of the charger should also be considered.

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A compact charger positioned discreetly beside a doorway, garage or side wall may have considerably less visual impact than a prominent unit and associated cabling across the main frontage.

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EV chargers on listed buildings

 

Listed buildings require considerably more care.

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The permitted development rights for wall-mounted EV outlets and freestanding charging upstands do not apply where the installation is within the curtilage of a listed building.

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A planning application may therefore be necessary.

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Listed Building Consent may also need to be considered if the installation involves alterations that affect the character or historic fabric of the listed building.

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That could include:

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• fixing a charger directly to historic masonry

• drilling through external walls

• installing visible cables or conduits

• altering walls, gates or historic surfaces

• creating a new parking or charging area.

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A discreet alternative position on a modern outbuilding or carefully located freestanding charger may sometimes provide a better solution.

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What if permitted development rights have been removed?

 

A property may look like an ordinary house and still have restrictions affecting permitted development.

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Rights can sometimes have been removed through:

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• an Article 4 Direction

• a condition attached to an earlier planning permission

• planning restrictions applying to a particular development.

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This is one reason why it is worth checking the property rather than relying solely on what neighbours have done.

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Two apparently identical houses can have different planning histories.

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When will an EV charger need planning permission?

 

A planning application may be required where the proposed charger does not comply with the relevant permitted development conditions.

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That could include situations where:

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• the wall-mounted charger exceeds the permitted size

• a charging upstand exceeds the permitted height

• more than one charging upstand is proposed for a parking space

• the installation is within the curtilage of a listed building

• permitted development rights have been removed

• the charger is associated with on-street rather than qualifying off-street parking

• wider works associated with the charging installation require permission.

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Needing planning permission does not mean that the charger cannot be installed.

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It simply means the local planning authority needs to assess the proposal through the planning process.

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What might an EV charger planning application include?

 

A straightforward domestic application may need information showing:

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• the property location

• position of the parking space

• proposed position of the charger

• dimensions of the equipment

• photographs of the property

• elevations where appropriate

• manufacturer's information

• details of any associated works.

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For a listed building or conservation-area property, additional information may be required to explain how the installation has been designed to minimise its visual or historic impact.

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Can you obtain confirmation that an EV charger is permitted development?

 

Where an EV charger appears to comply with permitted development rights, some homeowners may still want formal confirmation before installation.

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A Lawful Development Certificate can potentially provide formal confirmation that a proposed installation is lawful.

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Planning Portal specifically identifies an LDC as an option where a homeowner is uncertain whether an EV charger installation falls within permitted development rights.

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This can be particularly useful where there are unusual circumstances or where formal documentation may be useful when the property is eventually sold.

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EV chargers for flats

 

Installing an EV charger at a flat can involve more than planning permission.

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The charging point may serve:

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• an allocated parking space

• a communal car park

• underground parking

• parking owned by a management company or freeholder.

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In these cases, the homeowner or leaseholder may also need to consider ownership of the parking area and obtain any necessary consent from the freeholder or management company.

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For larger communal schemes, electrical capacity and the way power is distributed between chargers can also become important.

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EV charger planning permission for businesses

 

EV charging is increasingly being installed at offices, shops, hotels, warehouses and other commercial properties.

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The government expanded permitted development rights in 2025 to make it easier to install charging infrastructure in non-domestic car parks. Changes included allowing taller charging upstands and making provision for equipment housing needed to support larger and more powerful charging systems.

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Many commercial chargers can therefore be installed without a conventional planning application.

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Larger charging hubs and schemes involving extensive new infrastructure may still require detailed planning consideration.

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Think about the electrical supply as well as the charger

 

Planning permission is only one part of an EV charger installation.

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The electrical system also needs to be capable of supplying the charger safely and effectively.

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A homeowner considering an EV charger may therefore need to think about:

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• the existing electrical supply

• charger capacity

• cable routes

• consumer unit capacity

• smart charging

• solar PV integration

• battery storage

• future second vehicles.

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Considering these issues before installation can make it easier to create a system that works for the home now and in the future.

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EV charging and solar panels

 

One of the most attractive green-home combinations is solar PV and EV charging.

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Solar panels can generate electricity during the day which can potentially be used within the home, stored in a battery or directed towards charging an electric vehicle.

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A wider system might include:

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• solar PV

• battery storage

• EV charging

• smart energy management

• a heat pump

• energy-efficient appliances.

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Looking at these technologies together can help homeowners make better decisions about the size and specification of each system.

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Should I install more than one EV charger?

 

Many households now have more than one vehicle.

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If there is a realistic possibility that a second electric vehicle will be purchased in future, it may be worth considering this when the first charger is installed.

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That does not necessarily mean installing two chargers immediately.

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It may simply mean considering:

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• electrical capacity

• cable routes

• future charger positions

• load balancing

• solar generation

• battery storage.

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Planning ahead can avoid unnecessary disruption when a second charger is eventually required.

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EV charging as part of a green home

 

An EV charger is more than somewhere to plug in a car.

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For many households it will eventually form part of a wider home-energy system.

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Solar panels may generate electricity, battery storage may retain it, smart controls may determine when energy is cheapest or cleanest, and the electric vehicle itself becomes one of the largest electrical loads connected to the property.

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Thinking about the charger as part of the whole home can therefore produce a better long-term solution than simply installing the first suitable unit beside the driveway.

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How APN Green Homes can help

 

APN Green Homes helps homeowners consider green technologies as part of an overall strategy for the property.

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For EV charging, that can mean looking at the proposed charger location, parking arrangement and whether any planning restrictions need further investigation.

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It can also mean considering how EV charging could work alongside:

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• solar panels

• battery storage

• heat pumps

• home electrical upgrades

• wider energy-efficiency improvements.

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Where planning questions arise, the first step is to establish whether the proposed installation is likely to fall within permitted development rights or whether a planning application, Lawful Development Certificate or additional consent should be considered.

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Planning an EV charger?

 

For most homeowners with their own driveway or other off-street parking, installing an EV charger is likely to be relatively straightforward from a planning perspective.

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But listed buildings, restricted permitted development rights, charging posts, flats and homes without off-street parking can require more investigation.

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The best time to establish this is before the charger is ordered and the installer arrives.

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Considering an EV charger? APN Green Homes can help you understand the property, the planning position and how home charging could form part of your wider green home upgrade.

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NEXT STEPS

Every home is different, so the right next step depends on your property, your budget and what you want to achieve. APN Green Homes can help you turn the information you have just read into a practical plan for your own home. Whether you are considering one improvement or looking at a complete whole-home energy upgrade, we can help you understand what is suitable, what should be prioritised and where your money is likely to make the greatest difference.

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Choose one of the options below to get the ball rolling:

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BOOK A GREEN HOME SURVEY
Get a detailed assessment of your home with practical, property-specific recommendations and a clear plan for the improvements worth considering.

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BOOK A PHONE CONSULTATION
Talk through your property, ideas and priorities with us and get some initial direction on the best way forward.

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EMAIL US
Send us details of your property, photographs or any questions and we can advise you on the most appropriate next step.

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GIVE US A CALL
Prefer to speak to someone? Give us a call and tell us what you are hoping to achieve.

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Your greener, more efficient home starts with understanding the right improvements for your property — and putting them in the right order.