Article 4 by council › Derby

HMO Article 4 in Derby

Do you need planning permission to turn a family home into a small HMO in Derby? What the council's own direction says, with dates, the map and the source.

In parts. Derby has HMO Article 4 directions in named areas.

named areas: whole of Arboretum ward and the parts of Abbey, Alvaston North, Darley, Mackworth and New Zealand, Normanton, Sinfin and Osmaston within the Ring Road (council: 'a large part of the city') In force since 3 May 2025. Inside those areas a small HMO of 3 to 6 people needs full planning permission; outside them it is permitted development, subject to licensing. Check the exact address on the council's map or with the postcode checker below.

Coversnamed areas: whole of Arboretum ward and the parts of Abbey, Alvaston North, Darley, Mackworth and New Zealand, Normanton, Sinfin and Osmaston within the Ring Road (council: 'a large part of the city')In force from3 May 2025Council pagewww.derby.gov.uk/environment-and-planning/planning/developmeMapcouncil mapChecked8 September 2026

Council confirms the direction is in place and 'set to come into effect in May 2025' (news, 27 Dec 2024); the day (3 May 2025) is from The Negotiator, not a council page. Boundary PDF: https://letstalk.derby.gov.uk/hmo-proposed-article-4-direction/widgets/87304/documents (Proposed Article 4 Area.pdf).

Check an exact postcode

A direction can cover part of a council, and the national dataset is incomplete. This asks the planning data service for the exact point and falls back to the council's own statement.

Is a postcode inside an HMO Article 4 area?

Licensing in Derby

Mandatory HMO licence: 5 or more people forming 2 or more households sharing facilities.

Additional licensing: none found. Page states: Derby City Council does not currently operate any Additional HMO Licensing or Selective Licensing schemes

Selective licensing: none found. Page states: Derby City Council does not currently operate any Additional HMO Licensing or Selective Licensing schemes

Full licensing detail for Derby

What an Article 4 direction means

HMO Article 4 directions remove the permitted-development right to convert a family home (C3) to a small HMO (C4, 3 to 6 people). Inside one, that conversion needs full planning permission. Councils may also run additional licensing (smaller HMOs) or selective licensing (all private rentals) in designated areas. Planning permission and licensing are separate: a licence does not grant planning permission, and permission does not remove the need for a licence.

See this on every listing.Kerbio puts the Article 4 answer, licensing, the council's HMO register and sold prices on the Rightmove, Zoopla or OnTheMarket page itself. Free for 7 days, then £39 a month.

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Sources: Derby council, planning.data.gov.uk Article 4 direction areas, gov.uk HMO licensing. Indicative; confirm with the council before you offer.