Search a current or historic application

Use Portal360 for planning applications, tree works, appeals, documents, decision notices and property history.

Search by map or nearby land

Use the District Mapping Service when a postcode search fails, the site is land-based, or you need nearby planning layers.

Comment on an application

Open the application details and submit a written comment online. Include your address and postcode so it can be logged properly.

Check if permission is needed

Use St Albans guidance, Planning Portal common projects and a Lawful Development Certificate where formal certainty is needed.

Submit a new application

Use the Planning Portal and St Albans validation checklists before upload, payment and submission.

Report a possible breach

Search planning history first. St Albans and Watford now operate a shared enforcement service for breach reports.

Use weekly lists for new cases

Check recently registered planning and tree works applications when you want to catch a new case before wider awareness.

Use decisions lists for outcomes

Check determined applications and then open the decision notice for conditions, reasons and approved drawing numbers.

Check committee call-in notes

Weekly list pages show call-in context. Committee routes matter for applications not decided only under delegated powers.

Location plan

Check the red-line boundary, access, neighbouring land, named roads, north point and whether the site shown matches the proposal.

Existing and proposed plans

Compare floor plans, elevations, roof plans, sections, levels and revisions. Open plans in separate tabs if you need side-by-side comparison.

Reports and statements

Check heritage, BNG, ecology, flood, drainage, tree, transport, daylight, design and access, and planning statements where relevant.

Consultation and comments

Read public comments and consultee responses before writing your own. Revised plans may have answered some concerns.

Decision notice

Read the final decision, approved plan numbers, expiry date, conditions and reasons for refusal before buying or starting works.

Measuring tool

St Albans warns users to set the correct plan scale before using measuring tools. Do not measure from an unscaled PDF view.

Householder works

Check extensions, lofts, outbuildings, roof changes, boundary walls, hardstanding, porches and previous conditions before assuming permitted development applies.

Conservation and listed buildings

Article 4 areas, conservation areas, listed buildings and historic settings can remove or restrict normal permitted development options.

Formal proof route

Use a Lawful Development Certificate where you need formal evidence that proposed or existing works are lawful.

Before opening Planning Portal

• Confirm whether permission is needed.
• Choose the correct application type.
• Check St Albans validation checklist for that type.
• Prepare ownership certificate and agricultural declaration where required.
• Check the current fee page and Planning Portal fee calculator.
• Check BNG, trees, heritage, flooding, drainage, transport and design triggers.

Before uploading files

• Use clear file names and separate documents.
• Check the red-line boundary includes all land needed.
• Use correct scale, scale bar and north point.
• Remove personal phone numbers, emails and sensitive personal information.
• Submit sensitive evidence separately and clearly mark it confidential if asking the council to withhold it.
• Save the Planning Portal reference and payment receipt.

Minimum information

Where BNG applies, include pre-development biodiversity value, completed metric, earlier date explanation where used, degradation statement where relevant and irreplaceable habitat details where relevant.

Habitat plan

Plans should be drawn to an identified scale, show north and show onsite habitat existing on the application date or earlier proposed date.

After approval

BNG permission is subject to a pre-commencement biodiversity gain condition. The Biodiversity Gain Plan must be approved before development starts.

Conservation and historic environment

Check conservation areas, listed buildings, locally listed buildings, archaeology and Article 4 directions before assuming standard permitted development applies.

Trees and protected landscapes

Tree Preservation Orders and conservation-area tree controls can affect even small works. Use map tools and tree guidance before cutting or pruning.

Major growth-area applications

Large applications may have separate document pages because of file size. Always follow the council’s named application instructions where provided.

Read the decision letter

Check approved drawing numbers, expiry date, pre-commencement conditions, material samples, landscaping, BNG, drainage and construction controls.

Use amendment routes before changing work

Do not build a different scheme and fix it later. Use the correct non-material amendment, variation or discharge route where needed.

Before reporting

• Search Portal360 and the District Mapping Service first.
• Check permissions, approved plans, conditions and tree/listed building controls.
• Collect address, dates, photos if safe, and a clear description of the alleged breach.
• Use your real contact details; anonymous complaints are normally not accepted except certain criminal activity involving listed buildings or protected trees.

Issues enforcement can investigate

• Development without required planning permission.
• Failure to comply with conditions or approved plans.
• Unauthorised use of land or buildings.
• Unauthorised works to protected trees or trees in conservation areas.
• Unauthorised listed building works, adverts or untidy land.