A certificate of lawfulness is a legal determination by the local planning authority that the building works, or use of land, that you have either carried out, or are proposing to carry out, are, or will be, lawful.
When the local planning authority grants a certificate of lawfulness it means that enforcement action cannot be taken against the development described in the certificate.
Many people apply for certificates of lawfulness where they have carried out development without realising that they were breaching a planning condition on their planning permission, or where they are not sure whether a building that they are proposing to construct will require planning permission.
When do you need a certificate of lawfulness?
If you want to be certain that the existing use of a building is lawful for planning purposes or that your proposal does not require planning permission, you can apply for a Certificate of Lawfulness. It is not compulsory to have one, but there may be times when you would need it to confirm that the use, or activity named in it is lawful for planning control purposes.
Our certificate of lawfulness advice
Our planning team will advise you on the likelihood of success in obtaining a certificate of lawfulness and on the evidence that you should submit with your application. If your application is refused we can guide you through the appeal process, submitting an appeal on your behalf.
Planning from all perspectives
Having worked within legal departments for local authorities, we have experience ‘on both sides of the fence’ and can advise you on the intricacies of planning law from all perspectives.
Above all, our planning lawyers are committed to helping you get the outcome you need, so you can focus on moving forward with your building projects.