Planning Application Fees

Fees differ, depending the the nature and type of application.  Some are free.  Charges are set nationally.  A rough guide to the fees for some common types of application is presented here as follows:

Type of Application

Fee

Householder Planning Application (alterations to a single dwelling) £150
Erection of garden structures (for example: greenhouses, sheds, fences, walls) £150
Change of Use £335
Other types of Planning Application Varies
(see guides below)
Advertisements - signs on business premises £95
Advertisements - other (for example: hoardings) £335
Conservation Area Consent or Listed Building Consent Free of charge
Tree Felling and Pruning (protected trees) Free of charge
Hedgerow removal Free of charge

Detailed Guides

For general Planning Applications, fees vary widely and depend on several different factors.  Concessions are available in some cases.  The following documents provide details about fees for different applications.  These can be viewed or downloaded.

Schedule of planning application fees [pdf document]

Guidance on planning application fees [pdf document]

Alternatively, you can use the UKplanning's Fee Calculator [external link] or the Planning Portal's Fee Calculator [external link] to calculate the appropriate fee for a specified situation.

Points to Note

  • Other planning fees (by which we mean other than for applications) are listed separately.
  • Pre-application advice is provide free of charge.
  • Most types of applications require the inclusion of several copies of a site location plan, for which obviously entails an additional cost.  A site location plan is required for some applications for which there is no application fee.
  • Your application will not be progressed until the correct fee has been received.
  • There is no VAT on planning applications.

How to pay

Payment by Cheque

Cheques should be made payable to Darlington Borough Council and either posted to Town Hall, Darlington, DL1 5QT or delivered by hand to the Customer Service Centre in the Town Hall.

A completed Application Fee Form should accompany your cheque.  If you have received a set of application forms from us, one of these forms will have been included.  Otherwise, it can be downloaded here and printed out.

Application fee form [pdf document]

Payment by Credit Card

Credit cards are accepted, either over the telephone on 01325 388799 or in person (at the Customer Service Centre in the Town Hall). 

If paying by telephone, please remember to identify the application by any reference number that you have been given, along with the site address of the application.

Online payment

An online payment facility is currently not available.