Enforcement Notices and Appeals
An Enforcement Notice requires you to remedy a specified breach of planning control by a set date. You commonly have 28 days to appeal before it takes effect. After that, non-compliance is a criminal offence.
By John Langdown · 5 min read
An Enforcement Notice is a formal instrument. It sets out what the council says is wrong, the steps required to put it right, and a compliance period once the notice takes effect.
Common appeal window
28 days to appeal, before the notice takes effect (confirm the exact date on your specific notice).
Grounds of appeal
Appeals against an Enforcement Notice can be made on several statutory grounds under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, including that permission should be granted, that there hasn't in fact been a breach, or that the steps required go further than necessary. Which grounds are realistic depends entirely on your specific situation.
Appeals can take a long time to be decided, and outcomes vary case by case. We'll give you a realistic view once we've reviewed your notice.
If you don't appeal
The notice takes effect on the date stated. From that point, failing to comply with what it requires is a criminal offence, and the council may take direct action to remedy the breach itself and recover the cost.
Section 174, Town and Country Planning Act 1990.
This guide is general information, not advice on your specific case.
Need advice on this? Enforcement NoticeExperience from the other side of enforcement
John Langdown
Founder & Planning Enforcement Specialist
John has personally investigated over 1,000 planning enforcement cases while working for numerous Local Planning Authorities across England, covering residential extensions, changes of use, complex commercial sites and large-scale developments. That means we do not have to guess how a council will interpret evidence or decide whether to act. John has made that exact decision, from that exact seat, over a thousand times.
Speak to someone who understands it.
Enquiries are free, whether you get in touch through the contact form or by phone. In-depth consultations start from £120.