Article 4 directions from every council in England that publishes them, on one map searchable by postcode. Tap anywhere to see which directions apply and every other constraint there, or check a whole portfolio below.
Quick answer
An Article 4 direction removes some permitted development rights in an area, so work that would normally need no planning application needs one there. The commonest are for houses in multiple occupation (turning a family house into a small HMO), for changes to windows, doors and frontages in conservation areas, and for offices or shops becoming homes. The purple areas on the map are the directions councils have published.
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Or paste one address per line
UK addresses with a postcode, or postcodes on their own. Only the address is used for the check.
Councils publish their Article 4 directions to planning.data.gov.uk one by one, and 112 have so far. Where a council hasn't, the checker says "not published" rather than "none": check the council's website. Each direction's name says what it covers; the council's notice has the detail.
HMO landlords and investors before buying, letting agents, developers looking at conversions, architects, and buyers of homes in conservation areas who want to change windows or doors. The list checker screens a whole portfolio or pipeline at once.
Inside an Article 4 area the work the direction names needs planning permission. It doesn't stop the work: it means the council decides. A small HMO in an HMO Article 4 area needs permission, so check before buying a house to let that way.
A screening map from councils' published data. The council's Article 4 notice is the authority on what a direction covers.
What is an Article 4 direction?
A council's direction that removes some permitted development rights in an area, so the work it names needs planning permission there.
Is there an Article 4 map for HMOs?
Yes: this map shows the Article 4 directions of every council that publishes them, including the HMO directions; each one's name says what it covers. Tap a spot to see the directions that apply.
Do I need planning permission for an HMO?
For a small HMO (3 to 6 unrelated people sharing), not usually, unless the house is in an HMO Article 4 area. Larger HMOs need permission everywhere.
Can I check a list of properties for Article 4?
Yes. Paste up to 5,000 addresses or postcodes. Each comes back in an Article 4 area (with its name), none (where the council publishes), or not published, with every other constraint.
Why does it say not published?
The council hasn't sent its Article 4 directions to planning.data.gov.uk yet. Directions may still apply: check the council's website.
The checker reports every constraint we hold for each site: green belt, conservation area, Article 4, tree preservation orders, listed buildings, flood zone and national landscape. From Claude, the InstaMaps connector checks a whole sheet the same way and writes the answers back into it.