Common Land and Town and Village Green Applications

To register a piece of land as village green you will need to show 20 years use (of lawful sports and pastimes). For common land you will need all the landowners' agreement.

The Commons Registration Act 1965 no longer applies in Hertfordshire as we are one of the 7 pioneer authorities for the Commons Act 2006.

Making an application
Applications to change the extent of an area depicted on the register maps
Applications to change what is described in the registers
Application forms and guidance
The Commons and Village Greens Register
Register of applications and proposals
Landowner deposits
Contact us

Making an application

It is a requirement to submit evidence with the application form. Any missing details may result in your application being unsuccessful.

If you apply for village green, you will need as many evidence questionnaires filled in as possible.

If you apply for common land you will need evidence that the piece of land has had rights execised over it and the owners agreement. Pictures are very useful, especially if dated.

If you wish to apply to amend rights over common land, we advise you contact us to guide you to the correct application form. Please choose one of the application types from the table below and use the corresponding form via the Commons Act 2006 application documents link.

Fees for common land applications are shown below. There is however no fee for village green applications. Fees were last adjusted on 1st February 2012.

Applications to change the extent of an area depicted on the register maps

Purpose of application	Application fee	Provision under, or for the purposes of which, the application is made
Creation of a right of common resulting in the registration of new common land	No fee	Section 6 of the 2006 Act
Statutory disposition pursuant to section 14 of the 2006 Act (including the exchange of land for land subject to a statutory disposition)	£300	Schedule 4, paragraph 8
Registration of a new town or village green other than by the owner	No fee	Section 15(1) of the 2006 Act
Registration of a new town or village green by the owner	No fee	Section 15(8) of the 2006 Act
Correction, for the purpose of section 19(2)(a), of a mistake made by registration authority	No fee	Section 19 of the 2006 Act
Correction, for the purpose of section 19(2)(e), updating any entry to take account of accretion or diluvion e.g effects of a river	£200	Section 19 of the 2006 Act
Non-registration of common land or town or village green	No fee	Schedule 2, paragraph 2 or 3, to the 2006 Act
Waste land of a manor not registered as common land	No fee	Schedule 2, paragraph 4, to the 2006 Act
Town or village green wrongly registered as common land	No fee	Schedule 2, paragraph 5, to the 2006 Act
Deregistration of certain land registered as common land or as a town or village green	£1,000	Schedule 2, paragraphs 6 - 9, to the 2006 Act
Statutory disposition (including the exchange of land for land subject to a statutory disposition)	£360	Schedule 3, paragraph 2 or 4, to the 2006 Act

Applications to change what is described in the registers

Purpose of application	Application fee	Provision under, or for the purposes of which, the application is made
Declaration of entitlement to exercise a right of common	£100	Regulation 43
Creation of a right of common resulting in the registration of new common land	No fee	Section 6 of the 2006 Act
Creation of a right of common over existing common land	£200	Section 6 of the 2006 Act
Variation of a right of common	£200	Section 7 of the 2006 Act
Apportionment of a right of common	£200	Section 8 of the 2006 Act
Attachment of a right of common	No fee	Section 10 of the 2006 Act
Re-allocation of attached rights	£200	Section 11 of the 2006 Act
Transfer of a right in gross	£80	Section 12 of the 2006 Act
Surrender or extinguishment of a right of common	£160	Section 13 of the 2006 Act
Correction, for the purpose of section 19(2)(a), of a mistake made by registration authority	No fee	Section 19 of the 2006 Act
Correction, for the purpose of section 19(2)(b), of mistake other than extent of land or what can be done by virtue of a right	£200	Section 19 of the 2006 Act
Correction, for the purpose of section 19(2)(c), by removing a duplicate entry	£200	Section 19 of the 2006 Act
Correction, for the purpose of section 19(2)(d), to update the details of any name or address referred to in an entry	£100	Section 19 of the 2006 Act
Severance by transfer to public bodies	£160	Schedule 1, paragraph 1(6)(b), to the 2006 Act
Severance authorised by order	£160	Schedule 1, paragraph 3(7)(b), to the 2006 Act
Creation of a right of common	£380	Schedule 3, paragraph 2 or 4, to the 2006 Act
Surrender or extinguishment of a right of common	£200	Schedule 3, paragraph 2 or 4, to the 2006 Act
Variation of a right of common	£360	Schedule 3, paragraph 2 or 4, to the 2006 Act
Apportionment of a right of common (to facilitate any other purpose)	£320	Schedule 3, paragraph 2 or 4, to the 2006 Act
Severance of a right of common	£200	Schedule 3, paragraph 2 or 4, to the 2006 Act
Transfer of a right in gross	£200	Schedule 3, paragraph 2 or 4, to the 2006 Act
Statutory disposition (including the exchange of land for land subject to a statutory disposition)	£360	Schedule 3, paragraph 2 or 4, to the 2006 Act

Application forms and guidance

Commons Act 2006 application forms and guidance

The Commons and Village Greens Register

Information relating to Land Charges and Extent of Highways and Commons and Village Greens enquiries are not available through our Publication Scheme.

Commons and Village Green viewings and queries

Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies holds a series of maps and registers showing areas of common land and designated village greens, throughout the county. These are available for visitors to consult.

Documents can be viewed by booking in advance. Please visit Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies.

Property Searches

These are carried out by the Highway Boundaries and Land Charges Unit of the County Council.

Address:
Highway Boundaries and Land Charges
Hertfordshire County Council
County Hall
Pegs Lane
Hertford
SG13 8DE

Direct Line: 01992 556103

Email: commons.enquiries@hertfordshire.gov.uk

The Standard Search Fee is £16 + VAT and a copy of the relevant entry from the Register is £10.

Payment can be made by:

Cheque (payable to Hertfordshire County Council)
BACS (details available on request)
Telephone card payment (please provide a contact phone number for the card holder).

Register of applications and proposals

A-Z of Applications and Proposals

Landowner deposits

Landowner deposits can be made preventing rights from accruing across land under section 31(6) of the Highways Act 1980 and section 15A of the Commons Act 2006.

Contact us

For information, please email:

commons&greens@hertfordshire.gov.uk