Planning Rules
Temporary Use Permitted Development: The 28-Day Rule (2025)
Land can be used for temporary purposes — events, festivals, filming, markets — for up to 28 days per year without planning permission. Here’s how the Part 4 right works.
⏱ 7 min read📅 Updated June 2025🏠 England only
Quick Answer
Land can be used for temporary purposes for up to 28 days per year without planning permission
Part 4, Class B of the GPDO 2015 permits the temporary use of any land for any purpose (other than as a caravan site, motor racing, or clay pigeon shooting) for not more than 28 days in any calendar year. No more than 14 of those days can be used for motor racing or clay pigeon shooting. No buildings or structures may be erected on the land — only movable structures that are removed when use ends. This right is widely used for events, pop-up markets, film shoots, festivals, and temporary car parks. The 28-day allowance is per calendar year and resets on 1 January.
What Is Permitted
Part 4, Class B of the GPDO 2015 permits the use of any land for any purpose for up to 28 days per year. This covers:
- Events (festivals, fairs, markets, concerts)
- Seasonal car parks and overflow parking
- Temporary retail and pop-up shops
- Film shoots and location filming
- Agricultural shows and country fairs
- Sports events (other than motor sports/clay pigeon shooting beyond 14 days)
- Construction compounds (if only needed temporarily)
⚠️ Buildings are not permitted under Part 4, Class B. You can use land temporarily, and can place movable structures (stalls, temporary toilets, generators), but you cannot erect permanent buildings or structures requiring foundations. The structures must be removed when the temporary use ends.
Key Conditions
| Condition |
Detail |
| Maximum days |
28 days per calendar year on any parcel of land |
| Motor sports / clay pigeon shooting |
Maximum 14 days of the 28 for these uses |
| Caravan sites |
Not permitted under Class B — caravan sites need Caravan Site Licence and separate planning permission |
| Buildings |
No buildings may be erected — only movable structures removed after use |
| Land use at other times |
The land must revert to its normal use when the temporary use is not taking place |
| Listed buildings |
Class B can apply on the curtilage of listed buildings but any impact on the building itself may need listed building consent |
Events and Festivals
The 28-day temporary use right is widely used for outdoor events and festivals on agricultural land or other open land. Organising a festival within the 28-day limit means no planning permission is required for the land use itself — though other consents may be needed:
- Entertainment licence: Required for public entertainment events under the Licensing Act 2003
- Temporary Event Notice (TEN): Required for events with 499 or fewer attendees where alcohol is sold
- Building regulations: Temporary structures (stages, grandstands) may require approval under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations
- Environmental permits: May be required for events generating noise, waste, or water discharge
✅ The 28-day right can be split across multiple events. You can use the allowance for a 5-day festival plus three weekend markets — provided the total days don’t exceed 28 in the calendar year. Days when structures are being erected or dismantled do not count toward the 28 days provided no use of the land takes place on those days.
Film Shoots and Location Use
The 28-day temporary use right is frequently relied on by the film and television industry for location shooting. A film crew using a field, open land, or building exterior for location work doesn’t need planning permission provided the total use doesn’t exceed 28 days in the year.
However, significant physical changes to a location (constructing sets, altering the land) may constitute development requiring planning permission — even if the use is temporary. The temporary use right covers the use of land, not the carrying out of operations on it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I hold events in my field without planning permission?
Yes — under Part 4, Class B of the GPDO 2015, you can use any land (including agricultural fields) for events for up to 28 days per year without planning permission. No planning application is needed. You still need other licences for public entertainment events (entertainment licence, Temporary Event Notices for alcohol). The 28 days can be spread across multiple events in the year, provided the total doesn’t exceed 28 days.
Does the 28-day rule include set-up and take-down days?
This depends on whether ‘use’ occurs on those days. If structures are being erected but the land is not being used for the temporary purpose (e.g. a field being set up for a festival with no public access), those days may not count. However, once the public event begins, each day of use counts toward the 28. Councils interpret this differently and it can be a grey area — if in doubt, keep set-up days to a minimum and count them conservatively.
Can I use the 28-day right for a car boot sale every week?
Not if the total exceeds 28 days per year. A weekly car boot sale running from April to October (approximately 28 weeks) would far exceed 28 days. For regular markets and boot sales running more than 28 days per year, planning permission for a change of use to a market use is required. Some Local Plans have specific policies for regular markets — both permissive and restrictive depending on the area.
Does the 28-day right apply to buildings as well as land?
Part 4, Class B applies to ‘any land’ — this includes land on which buildings stand, such as car parks and building forecourts. However, any use inside a building is regulated by the use class of the building, not the Part 4 right. The Part 4 right covers use of the open land, not changes in how an existing building is used. Using the forecourt of a shop for a pop-up market stall can use the Part 4 right; using the interior of the shop for a different purpose cannot.
More on Permitted Development Rights
Extensions, loft conversions, outbuildings, solar panels — our complete guide covers everything you can build without planning permission.
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