Unauthorised Copying of Maps
Applicants and agents should note that copying Ordnance Survey maps without a valid licence breaches Ordnance Survey copyright and could lead to proceedings being taken by Ordnance Survey against such breaches. Maps submitted with planning applications should be from recognised, approved sources that clearly show where the copy was obtained.
Please use a legitimate map obtained from an authorised supplier. See obtaining maps.
Ordnance Survey Licences
Applicants or agents possessing their own copyright licence should ensure that all map extracts submitted with planning applications carry the relevant copyright acknowledgement and their licence number. It is the policy of Darlington Borough Council to reject site location plans that do not include this information. See Ordnance Survey Copyright Licence Application.
Points to Note
- It is an offence to use illegal copies of maps.
- Tracing or freehand copying of Ordnance Survey mapping is a breach of O.S. copyright.
- Copying of Land Registry plans is a breach of copyright without an approved O.S. licence to do so.
- Land Registry plans, even if obtained legally, should not be used as a substitute for site plans, as they do not fulfil all of the requirements.
- Sending maps by fax is classed as copying and is therefore not acceptable.
- Any maps issued to the applicant for use with a particular application may not be re-used in subsequent applications. A new set of maps must be obtained for each new application submission.
- Whilst certain historic OS mapping is exempt from copyright it is not normally suitable for use with a planning application that requires the provision of accurate up-to-date information. Site location plans based on out-of-date mapping are likely to be rejected.
- Copyright breaches are reported to Ordnance Survey, who may wish to take legal action.