Planning Permission For A Wedding Venue: What You Need To Know

Planning permission is a key consideration when setting up a wedding venue. You may need it if you're converting a barn or other building into a permanent venue, or if you're erecting a marquee for more than 28 days a year. You'll also need to think about licensing for serving alcohol and providing entertainment, and whether you need listed building consent.

Marquees

You can get away without planning permission if you use a marquee that is up for less than 28 days during the year. However, with the time taken to set up events, this equates to a handful of occasions. You will need planning permission for new buildings and for a change of use of old barns. If you have listed buildings, you might have to deal with further issues.

If you're thinking of converting an old barn into a permanent venue, this will also require planning permission, and you may also need listed building consent. You will also need to think about the licensing for serving alcohol and having live music on your property, and whether this extends to the marquee.

You will need to apply for planning permission if you want to erect a permanent structure in your outdoor space. Temporary Event Notices (TEN) will be needed to cover anyone carrying out a 'licensable activity' such as selling alcohol and providing entertainment. They are available from the local council. A premises licence is needed for permanent venues and authorises the licence-holder to carry out various licensable activities at a specific location.

Permanent structures

If you want to host legally binding weddings at your venue, you will need to apply for a civil ceremony licence from your local council. To obtain this licence, you must have a 'fixed and permanent structure' already in place that can sufficiently hold the couple, two witnesses, and two registrars.

If you want to erect a permanent structure on your site, you will need to apply for planning permission. The rules around temporary structure planning permission are not always clear and can change from area to area, so it is advised that you contact your local council before any work begins. Starting the planning permission process as early as possible can save you time, money and resources in the long run. Some councils dictate that the 28-day rule includes set-up and set-down days, while others say this applies to 28 separate event days excluding set-up and set-down days.

Listed buildings

If you're planning to use a listed building as a wedding venue, you will need to apply for planning permission. You will also need listed building consent.

You will need to apply for planning permission if you are converting a barn into a permanent wedding venue. If you are using a marquee, you will not need planning permission if it is up for less than 28 days a year. However, you will need to consider the time it takes to set up and take down the marquee, which may limit the number of events you can host.

You will also need to apply for a premises licence to authorise the sale of alcohol and provision of entertainment. This is called a Temporary Event Notice (TEN) and costs £21 per event. You will also need to apply to the local council for a 'grant of approval' to hold civil marriages and civil partnerships. This lasts for three years.

You will also need to carry out a health and safety risk assessment and have public liability insurance.

Noise complaints

If you are setting up a wedding venue, you will need to consider noise complaints as part of your planning application. If there are residents living within a few hundred metres of the property, you run a high risk of them making a noise complaint to the Environmental Health department of the council if you have a live band or DJ playing music into the early hours of the morning.

The process of obtaining planning permission is much smoother if you are considerate of the noise impact before going ahead with your plans. However, many clients make the mistake of believing they don't need planning permission for their outdoor wedding venue, and only realise this when they receive a noise complaint.

If you do receive a noise complaint, the planning team and Environmental Health Officer (EHO) will be alerted to the site, and you could come under pressure to stop all operations and events before you have submitted a planning application, which can take months to get approved.

To avoid noise complaints, it is important to be considerate of your neighbours and the surrounding area when planning your wedding venue. This may include choosing a location that is not close to residential areas, or ensuring that any music or celebrations do not disturb the peace and quiet of those living nearby.

Licences

If you are planning to use a marquee, you will not need planning permission as long as it is up for less than 28 days a year. However, you will need to apply for a licence to carry out licensable activities such as selling alcohol, serving food and providing entertainment. The type of licence you will need depends on the type of venue and the number of events you plan to hold each year. You can apply for a Premises Licence or a Temporary Events Notice (TEN). A TEN is available from the local council and covers anyone carrying out a 'licensable activity'. A Premises Licence is needed for permanent venues and authorises the licence-holder to carry out various licensable activities at a specific location. You will also need a 'grant of approval' from the local council to hold civil marriages and civil partnerships. These last for three years.

Frequently asked questions