Commercial and non-domestic buildings (permissions)

​In all cases, if a condition on a previous planning permit states that permission is required, it overrules the allowances listed here.

Commercial / non-domestic planning and building permissions

You will require both planning and building permission to construct most types of commercial or other non-domestic building, including:

• warehouses and industrial buildings
• offices and shops
• hotels, guest houses, and self-catering units
• storage and distribution (ie wholesale and warehouse facilities)
• crèches, nurseries, schools, church halls, law courts and training centres
• dance halls and sports arenas
• prisons, custody centres, secure training centres, secure hospitals
• medical and welfare centres

Installing additional / replacement plants or machinery

On industrial land planning permission may not be required:

• the installation of additional or replacement plants or machinery
• the provision or replacement of
• a sewer
• main
• pipe
• cable
• other apparatus

However, permission is not required provided that:

• the land is not part of a listed building or place (LBP) or a potential listed building or place (pLBP)
• if it is within an area of archaeological potential (AAP), no excavation is involved
• it would not result in an increase in noise, smells, dust or other pollution
• it would not exceed the height of existing plant or machinery or anything it replaced
• it does not create or widen a means of access to a road
• it does not create an obstruction to the view of a person using a road at or near a bend, corner, junction or intersection

Planning definition of 'industrial land'

'Industrial land' means land where the following processes take place:

• the making of an article
• the alteration, repair, ornamentation, finishing, cleaning, washing, packing or canning of an article

Limited extensions

Limited extensions to industrial and warehouse buildings may not require permission, provided:

• the building is not and does not form part of a listed building or place (LBP) or a potential listed building or place (pLBP)
• no excavation is involved if the site is within an area of archaeological potential (AAP) 
• the building is not within any safety zone for hazardous installations at Les Ruettes, St John, or La Collette, St Helier, as shown on the Island Plan
• the extension is not occupied by a separate business
• the extension does not exceed 5% of the area of the ground floor of the existing building
• the highest point of the extension does not exceed the existing height of the building
• the extension is more than 4 metres from any boundary of the property
• the extension does not lead to a reduction in vehicle parking spaces, nor restrict the access or manoeuvring of service vehicles
• the materials used match those in the existing building

Permitted development on commercial buildings

Commercial buildings may benefit from 'permitted development' rights which allows work to be undertaken without planning permission for:

• windows and doors
• heat pumps
• painting
• repairs and maintenance
• solar panels and wind turbines

Planning and Building (General Development) (Jersey) Order 2011 on Jersey Law website
Pre-application advice 
Making an application - planning
Making an application - building