Stop notice in planning
A stop notice is an enforcement notice that can be issued by a local planning authority if they believe there is a breach of planning control, that is, where development is carried out without the proper planning permission, or where there is a failure to comply with a condition or limitation stipulated on permitted development rights.
It is an order for the ‘relevant activity’ to cease on any part of that land to which the notice relates.
Section 183 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 enables the local planning authority to serve a stop notice either alongside the serving of an enforcement notice, or afterwards. If the compliance period specified in the enforcement notice has expired, and the relevant activity continues, then a stop notice can be issued.
A stop notice can be withdrawn at any time by giving notification to those who were served with the notice. (This does not prejudice the authority’s power to serve another stop notice.)
If more immediate action is required, the local authority can issue a temporary stop notice.
Failure to comply with a stop notice can lead to prosecution and an unlimited fine.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Enforcement notice.
- Local planning authority.
- Permitted development.
- Planning appeal.
- Planning enforcement.
- Planning enforcement officer
- Planning objection.
- Planning permission.
- Regularisation.
- Special Nature Conservation Order SNCO.
- Stop work order.
- Temporary stop notice.
- Town and Country Planning Act
Featured articles and news
ECA, JIB and JTL back Fabian Society call to invest in skills for a stronger built environment workforce.
Women's Contributions to the Built Environment.
Calls for the delayed Circular Economy Strategy
Over 50 leading businesses, trade associations and professional bodies, including CIAT, and UKGBC sign open letter.
The future workforce: culture change and skill
Under the spotlight at UK Construction Week London.
A landmark moment for postmodern heritage.
A safe energy transition – ECA launches a new Charter
Practical policy actions to speed up low carbon adoption while maintaining installation safety and competency.
Frank Duffy: Researcher and Practitioner
Reflections on achievements and relevance to the wider research and practice communities.
The 2026 Compliance Landscape: Fire doors
Why 'Business as Usual' is a Liability.
Cutting construction carbon footprint by caring for soil
Is construction neglecting one of the planet’s most powerful carbon stores and one of our greatest natural climate allies.
ARCHITECTURE: How's it progressing?
Archiblogger posing questions of a historical and contextual nature.
The roofscape of Hampstead Garden Suburb
Residents, architects and roofers need to understand detailing.
Homes, landlords. tenants and the new housing standards
What will it all mean?
The Architectural Technology podcast: Where it's AT
Catch-up on the latest episodes.
Edmundson Apprentice of the Year award 2026
Entries now open for this Electrical Contractors' Association award.
Traditional blue-grey slate from one of the oldest and largest UK slate quarries down in Cornwall.
There are plenty of sources with the potential to be redeveloped.
Change of use legislation breaths new life into buildings
A run down on Class MA of the General Permitted Development Order.
Solar generation in the historic environment
Success requires understanding each site in detail.