Installing a home EV charger
You can install an EV charger if you have off-street parking (i.e. a driveway) and within the boundary of most homes with legal on-street parking (i.e. there are no road markings preventing you from parking directly outside your house). Please read our guidance on safe on-street charging.
As of 21 October 2026, most home EV chargers come under Permitted Development rights. This means you don’t need to apply for planning permission to install a charger if you meet the requirements. No application is needed to qualify for permitted development rights.
You may not need planning permission if:
· The charger is installed on a house or block of flats within its property boundary.
· The charger is mounted no higher than 1.6 metres above ground level.
· The charger does not project more than 0.2 metres from the wall and there is at least 1.5 metres of usable pavement between the highway and the charger.
· The property is not a listed building or in a conservation area.
· If charging a vehicle parked on the street requires a cable to cross the pavement, an authorised cross-pavement solution is installed and approved by the highway authority – please see guidance on applying for a cable channel here.
You will need planning permission when:
- The property is a listed building.
- The installation is within a conservation area.
- The proposed charger does not meet permitted development limits and conditions.
- An authorised cross-pavement solution cannot be provided where the charging cable would need to cross a footway.
If you are unsure whether your proposal qualifies as permitted development, please contact the Planning Service before installing a charger.
Read more about EV charger planning requirements.
Grants
You might be able to get a grant towards the cost of installing a charger at your home. Find out more about:
- EV charge point grants for households with on-street parking
- EV charge point grants for renters and flat owners
If you're a business, charity or public sector organisation you may be eligible for a grant. It would contribute to the up-front costs of a charge point. Find out more about the workplace charging scheme.