Article 4 by council › Lichfield
HMO Article 4 in Lichfield
Do you need planning permission to turn a family home into a small HMO in Lichfield? What the council's own direction says, with dates, the map and the source.
No. Lichfield had no HMO Article 4 direction in force when checked.
A small HMO of 3 to 6 people is permitted development in Lichfield, subject to HMO licensing. Checked 28 September 2026.
The council's 'About Article 4 Direction' page describes three directions in the Lichfield City, Whittington and Wigginton conservation areas covering windows, extensions, roofs and boundaries, with no mention of HMOs or C4 use. No HMO Article 4 page or proposal was found in searches.
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.
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.
Sources: Lichfield council, planning.data.gov.uk Article 4 direction areas, gov.uk HMO licensing. Indicative; confirm with the council before you offer.