Our online forms will be unavailable between 12.00am and 8.00am on Monday 7 April, and between 8.00pm and 10.00pm on Thursday 10 April for essential maintenance. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

The following systems will be unavailable from 5.00pm on Wednesday 9 April until 7.30am on Thursday 10 April: our online Council Tax, business rates and housing benefit system, and our welfare assistance form. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

Report a planning problem

If you have any concerns about building work, other development activity or illegal advertisement taking place near you which you don't believe has planning permission - report it to us and we'll investigate.

Submit a Planning Enforcement complaints form to complain about work near you.

We'll look into any complaint received. Reports are confidential but we'll need your details if you wish to be kept informed of the progress of your complaint.

What do we do?

We ensure that buildings in County Durham meet planning approvals and conditions and that land and buildings are kept in a satisfactory condition.

If there is a breach of planning control, untidy land and buildings, or illegal advertisements, action will normally only be taken where there is a clear adverse impact on the area.

What powers do we have?

We have a range of enforcement powers available to us including issuing Enforcement Notices. They outline required steps that have to be taken within a sufficient timescale. If this isn't complied with then we are able to take further action up to and including criminal prosecution.

More information

Our Planning Enforcement Protocol (PDF, 337 KB) lists the steps and actions we will take.

Contact Planning

Email planning@durham.gov.uk
Telephone 03000 262 830

Document downloads

Privacy notice - planning applications (PDF, 35 KB)(opens new window)