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A Householder’s Planning Guide
for the Installation of Antennas, including Satellite Dishes
Introduction
This booklet is an outline of the planning regulations for antennas
in England, and includes the Government’s statement of good
practice on where to place antennas. In this document, ‘antennas’
includes satellite dishes.  
This document replaces the previous Householder’s Guide,
produced in 1998, and takes account of the 2005 changes to the
Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development)
Order 1995. 
This guide aims to do the following: 
• Explain what the regulations say about the number and the
size of antennas allowed and where they should be placed.  
• Offer guidance on the most appropriate places to site antennas to
try to help protect our environment.
• Help retailers and installers provide appropriate advice and
service to you on where to place antennas.  
Important Notes:
Before you buy or rent an antenna, check whether you need
planning permission, listed building consent, or permission from
the landlord or owner.  
You are responsible for placing antennas in the appropriate
position. If you have any doubt about the position you have in
mind, contact the planning department of your local council, or
get independent professional advice.
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Buying and Installing Antennas
• Check if you need planning permission or listed building
consent. 
• Check if you need the landlord’s or owner’s permission.
• Use reputable and authorised suppliers and installers.
• Try to choose an antenna that is:
– no larger than that needed for good reception; and 
– within the specified size/volume1 limits for your area and
property.
• Try to place the antenna where it will be:
– inconspicuous and, if possible, where it will not be seen by
neighbours or the general public;
– unseen from the front of the house (preferably); and
– blending in with the chosen background.
Respect the environment. The cheapest option may not always
be the most appropriate one for you or the environment.
Don’t forget that you are responsible for installing the antenna. If
you do not place the antennas in the most appropriate position,
the council may demand that you position it elsewhere (at your
own expense).
Satellite and antenna technology continues to change: you
should be aware of the wide range of systems available so that
you can make an informed choice.
1 the volume of the antenna should have a cubic capacity of no more than 35 litres.
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Planning Regulations
Under the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted
Development) Order 1995 (as amended), you have a general
permission to install an antennas up to a specific size on property
without the need for planning permission. This general
permission depends on your house type and area. Your local
planning authority can give you more advice. This guide looks at
permission for:
1. Houses and buildings up to 15 metres high;
2. Houses and buildings up to 15m high in designated areas;
3. Buildings 15 metres high or more; and
4. Buildings 15 metres high or more in designated areas.
Designated Areas
Designated areas are 
– conservation areas;
– National Parks;
– Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty; and
– the Norfolk or Suffolk Broads.
These are defined within Schedule 1, Part 2, of the Town and
Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995,
under Article 1(5) and are sometimes referred to as Article 1(5) land.
Listed Buildings
Some buildings are ‘listed’ because of their special historic or
architectural interest.  Your local planning department can tell you
whether the building is ‘listed’. If you live in a ‘listed building’ and
want to install an antenna on that building, you generally need to
apply for ‘listed building consent’. This consent is different from
planning permission. You need listed building consent for any
antenna that affects the character or appearance of a listed
building or its setting.
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1.  Houses and buildings up to 15 metres high.
Unless your house (or the building in which you live) is in a
designated area, you do not need to apply for planning
permission to install an antenna on your property, as long as:
• there will be no more than two antennas on the property
overall. (These may be on the front or back of the building, on
the roof, attached to the chimney, or in the garden);
• if you are installing a single antenna, it is not more than 100
centimetres in any linear dimension2 (not including any
projecting feed element3, reinforcing rim, mounting and
brackets);  
• if you are installing two antennas, one is not more than 100
centimetres in any linear dimension, and the other is not more
than 60 centimetres in any linear dimension (not including any
projecting feed element, reinforcing rim, mounting and
brackets);  
• the cubic capacity4 of each individual antenna is not more than
35 litres;
• an antenna fitted onto a chimney stack is not more than 60
centimetres in any linear dimension; and
• an antenna mounted on the roof only sticks out above the roof
when there is a chimney-stack. In this case, the antenna should
not stick out more than 60 centimetres above the highest part
of the roof, or above the highest part of the chimney stack,
whichever is lower.
2 Linear dimension: This means taking the measurement in a straight line, starting from the edge
of the antenna to the opposite edge of the antenna. The measurement should only include the
antenna itself and not any attachment needed to fix it to the wall or roof, or connect it up to your
equipment.
3 Projecting feed element: In a dish antenna, the incoming signals are received by the dish which
then ‘reflects’ the signal into a central ‘feed horn’. This is usually positioned at a short distance
(a few inches) away from the dish and held in place by projecting arm or arms. 
4 cubic capacity: This means the volume (the amount of in 3 dimensions) occupied by an object
using known method of measurement.
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Houses and buildings up to 15 metres high in designated areas
If your house (or the building in which you live) is in a designated
area, you do not need to apply for planning permission to install
an antenna on your property, as long as:
• there will be no more than two antennas on the property
overall;
• if you are installing a single antenna, it is not be more than 100
centimetres in any linear dimension (not including any
projecting feed element, reinforcing rim, mounting and
brackets); 
• if you are installing two antennas, one is not more than 100
centimetres in any linear dimension, and the other is not more
than 60 centimetres in any linear dimension (not including any
projecting feed element, reinforcing rim, mounting and
brackets); 
• the cubic capacity of each individual antenna is not more than
35 litres;
• an antenna fitted onto a chimney stack is not more than 60
centimetres in any linear dimension;
• an antenna mounted on the roof only sticks out above the roof
when there is a chimney-stack. In this case, the antenna should
not stick out more than 60 centimetres above the highest part
of the roof, or above the highest part of the chimney stack,
whichever is lower; and
• an antenna is not installed on a chimney, wall, or a roof slope
which faces onto, and is visible from, a road or a Broads
waterway. (If you are not sure, get advice from the local
planning authority.)
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Buildings 15m or more in height
Unless your building is in a designated area, you do not need to
apply for planning permission to install a dish or other antenna on
your property, as long as:
• there will be no more than four antennas on the building
overall;
• the size of any antenna is not more than 130 centimetres in any
linear dimension (not including any projecting feed element,
reinforcing rim, mounting and brackets); 
• the cubic capacity of each individual antenna is not more than
35 litres;
• an antenna fitted onto a chimney stack is not more than 60
centimetres in any linear dimension; and
• an antenna mounted on the roof does not stick out above the
roof more than 300 centimetres above the highest part of the
roof.
Buildings above 15m or more in height in Designated Areas
Unless your building is in a designated area, you do not need to
apply for planning permission to install an antenna on your
property, as long as:
• there will be no more than four antennas on the building
overall;
• the size of any antenna is not more than 130 centimetres in any
linear dimension (not including any projecting feed element,
reinforcing rim, mounting and brackets); 
• the cubic capacity of each individual antenna is not more than
35 litres;
• an antenna fitted onto a chimney stack is not more than 60
centimetres in any linear dimension;
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• an antenna mounted on the roof does not stick out above the
roof more than 300 centimetres above the highest part of the
roof; and
• an antenna is not installed on a chimney, wall, or a roof slope
which faces onto, and is visible from, a road or a Broads
waterway. (If you are not sure, get advice from the local
planning authority.)
If you live in a flat, these limits refer to the building as a whole
and not to each separate flat. 
If the number of dishes or antennas installed on the building has
already reached the maximum allowed, you will need planning
permission for further installations. 
In this case, you may want to discuss with other residents the
possibility of a shared system.
You are responsible for applying for planning permission. If
necessary, you must get planning permission before you install
an antenna.
Your supplier or installer may be able to give you advice whether
you need to apply for planning permission for installing an
antenna in a particular place. If you are not sure, you should
contact the planning department of your local council, who can
provide application forms for planning permission.
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Guidance on Installations
Advice on Good Siting
When installing a dish or other antenna, you must position it in
such a way so that its effect on the outside appearance of the
building is reduced as far as possible. You must also remove it
when you no longer need it.
What you need to consider: 
If an antenna is not positioned in the most appropriate place, this
can make it more noticeable, or (depending on its colour and
appearance) make it stand out from its background.
Remember, you are responsible for:
• choosing the type of antenna; and 
• positioning the antenna on the building or in the garden.
When deciding on an antenna and where to position it, you
should take into account its effect on neighbours, the public, and
the environment. The retailer or installer may be able to give you
advice on these matters. If there is any doubt, you should contact
your local planning department.
Things to think about
For dish antennas, you should be aware of the importance of
colour. For example, a white dish may blend against a white
background but may be more obvious against darker
backgrounds, such as brick, or stone. 
The materials or the design can also affect how suitable a
particular antenna is. For example, a mesh or transparent dish
may be less obvious than a solid one. 
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Where you position the antenna on the property is perhaps the
most important thing to bear in mind when considering installing
one. Although it is important to make sure your antenna provides
adequate reception, it is also important to consider the visual
effect of your antenna. 
– An antenna mounted on the roof will be less noticeable than
one mounted on a wall.
– Antennas on a wall at the back of the building will usually be
less noticeable than on the front of the building. 
– Antennas mounted close to the ground in the back garden will
be less noticeable to neighbours than ones mounted on poles;
– Antennas hidden behind a parapet or a chimney stack may be
less noticeable than one mounted on the wall.
The Consequences of Poor Positioning
If your planning department thinks your antenna is in a poor
position and could reasonably be moved to make it less
noticeable, they may ask you to move it (at your own expense).
You would not have to apply for planning permission.
If you refuse this request, your planning department may: 
• demand that you apply for planning permission (for which you
must pay a fee) based on the fact that the antenna's effect on
the outside appearance of the building has not been reduced
as far as possible; 
or
• send you an enforcement notice demanding that you move the
antenna.
You are entitled to appeal if planning department refuses your
application for planning permission, or sends you an enforcement
notice. Reasons for an appeal could include that you think the
chosen position of the antenna is appropriate, or that the
measures you would need to take to move it are excessive,
perhaps causing you unreasonable costs.
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It is an offence not to follow an enforcement notice. You could
have to pay a fine unless you have successfully appealed 
against it.
If your planning department asks you to move the antennas they
should use these guidelines to show, on a diagram, what
reasonable measures you can take. The council cannot use this
power to deny you the right to install an antenna.
You should remove any antenna which you no longer need.
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Choosing Suppliers and
Installers
Suppliers and installers should be familiar with the planning and 
environmental aspects of installation.
We strongly advise you to get your antenna equipment from a 
reputable supplier, such as members of the Radio, Electrical and
Television Retailers’ Association (RETRA), other established
companies or, where appropriate, from the broadcaster.
We also advise you to use installers who are members of the
Confederation of Aerial Industries Limited (CAI) or other
professionally qualified installers who follow an appropriate Code
of Practice in line with this Planning Guide.
Reputable installers should have agreed standards for their work,
in some cases guaranteed by their company; they should also be
covered by public liability and employer’s liability insurance.
You should get quotes for alternative siting options and costs
(such as installing at the back) before installing the antenna.
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Guidance on siting your antenna
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This illustration is for general guidance only. It shows the possible
positions of antennas. 
This illustration does not apply to properties in designated
areas.  
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LOCATION
GUIDANCE
Front elevation – garden
✘ Not suitable – security concerns.
Front of the house – 1st floor level       ✘ Not suitable – highly visible from the street. 
Front of the house – 2nd floor level     ✔ Suitable – less visible from the street.
Side of the house – front  
✘ Not suitable – visible from the street.
Side of the house – back
✔✔ Recommended – not visible from the street
Roof-mounted – behind parapet
✔✔ Recommended – not visible from the street
Roof-mounted – over ridge tiles
✔ Suitable – less visible from street. Must only be installed if
the premises has a chimney-stack.
Eaves-mounted pole
✔✔ Recommended – not visible from the street. 
Chimney-mounted pole
✘ Not Suitable – higher than the chimney.
Chimney-mounted 
✔ Suitable – not higher than the chimney.
Flat roof – front
✘ Not suitable – visible from the street.
Flat roof – back
✔✔ Recommended – not visible from the street.
Side of the garage
✔✔ Recommended – not visible from the street.
Rear extension – side of the house
✔✔ Recommended – not visible from the street.
Rear extension – roof
✔✔ Recommended – not visible from the street.
Back garden – behind trees
✘ Not Suitable – tree may block signal.
Back garden – floor mounted
✔✔ Recommended – not visible from the street, but check
that a signal can be obtained.
Back garden – pole mounted
✘ Not Suitable – visible to neighbours.
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Alternatives to Individual
Antennas
If you live in:
• a tower block;
• a small block of flats;
• a terrace of houses; or
• a semi-detached house;
it may be possible to use shared antenna systems without the
need for each household to install an individual antenna. There
are several main alternatives to an individual antenna.
Shared Reception Systems
Shared antenna systems are worth considering if:
• planning permission is unlikely to be granted for several
antennas on a single building;
• a shared system would be more environmentally friendly than
for each home to have its own antenna;
• landlords or owners have banned individual antennas.
If you live in a tower block or a large group of flats or houses, you
should first check what arrangements, if any, have already been
made for a shared system.
You should always get professional advice to make sure the
system you have chosen offers the best choice of programmes at
a reasonable price and with the ability to accommodate future
services.
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If you live in a semi-detached or terraced house, it may be
possible to develop a shared system, although this may be more
expensive than installing individual antennas. You may also need
legal advice on the conditions for sharing. In any event, you
should make sure that any shared system provides access to all
the programmes everyone wants.
The same planning regulations apply to shared antennas as apply
to individual antennas.
The landlord or the building owner is responsible for deciding
whether or not to allow the installation of a shared system and to
get any licence. Guidelines on licensing are available from the
Department of Trade and Industry and OFCOM. Addresses are at
the end of this document.
Cable Networks
Cable networks can be another way of bringing satellite TV or
broadband to your home.
You may want to ask your council whether your area is served by
cable television. This is particularly important if:
• your home or building does not have a line-of-sight5 with the
relevant transmitter;
• planning permission for an antenna is not granted;
• a shared system is not practical;
• you do not want to have an antenna on the outside of your
property.
5 Line-of-sight: Many antennas and all satellite antennas need to be able to receive signals from
the transmitter without the signal being interrupted by trees or buildings etc. Antennas which do
not have line-of-sight to the transmitter will not receive signals correctly and will not function
properly.
17
Useful Addresses
Office of the Deputy Prime Minister
Planning Development Control Division
Eland House
Bressenden Place 
London SW1E 5DU
☎ 020 7944 4400
e-mail: [email address]
Department of Trade & Industry
Communications and Information Industries Directorate
151 Buckingham Palace Road 
London SW1W 9SS
☎ 020 7215 5000
e-mail: [email address]
Office of  Electronic Communications (OFCOM)
Riverside House
2a Southwark Bridge Road
London
SE1 9HA
☎ 020 7981 3000
Confederation of Aerial Industries Limited (CAI)
Fulton House
Fulton Road 
Wembley Park
Middlesex HA9 OTF
☎ 020 8902 8998
e-mail: [email address]
18
Radio, Electrical and Television Retailers’ Association Ltd (RETRA) 
Retra House 
St John’s Terrace
1 Ampthill Street 
Bedford MK42 9EY
☎ 01234 269 10
e-mail: [email address]
19
Further copies can be obtained
from ODPM Publications.
Tel: 0870 1226 236
For further information
visit www.odpm.gov.uk
Published by the Office of the
Deputy Prime Minister
© Crown copyright 2005
Printed in the UK, December 2005, on material
comprising 75% post-consumer waste and
25% ECF pulp
Product code 05 PD 03533

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