Statutory guidance

Regional flood defence and land drainage byelaws: activities and locations covered by the byelaws

Published 28 September 2022

You must follow the regional flood defence and land drainage byelaws (the byelaws) when carrying out activities:

• on or near a main river
• on or near a flood defence structure
• in a flood plain
• on or near a sea defence

If you need help to understand how and where the byelaws apply contact your local Environment Agency office.

1. Activities covered by the byelaws

The byelaws apply to the following activities:

• maintaining, controlling or operating river control structures
• preventing interference with river control structures or obstruction to the flow of a watercourse
• preventing damage to banks or sea defences
• prohibiting the deposition and discharge of goods, materials or waste in or on the banks of a watercourse
• managing vegetation growth in watercourses or on banks or river control works
• repairing buildings on banks or sea defences
• controlling, destroying or removing vermin in banks or sea defences
• controlling damage to banks or sea defences from grazing or watering of animals
• driving of vehicles and animals on banks or sea defences
• speed, navigation, mooring or obstruction of vessels
• managing abandoned, sunken or unattended vessels.
• preventing the obstruction of the responsible Authority or trespass onto Authority land

You are breaking the law if you do not follow them and your activities:

• increase flood risk
• cause harm to land drainage or the environment

There are other laws that may restrict what you can do on or near a main river or sea defence. You should check:

• if your activities require an environmental permit for flood risk activities
• your responsibilities if you own property next to any watercourse

2. Check if the activity is on a main river

Find out if your activity is on a main river. Check the location of main rivers.

3. Not on a main river

The regional flood defence and land drainage byelaws do not apply to ordinary watercourses. These are usually small rivers, streams and ditches.

If your activity is on an ordinary watercourse you may need:

• a land drainage consent
• to follow local council or internal drainage board byelaws

You should contact your local council or internal drainage board to find out.

4. Access the byelaws

There are 9 sets of regional flood defence and land drainage byelaws in England. Each set is different. You’ll need to find the byelaws for the location of your activity and check if they apply.

There are byelaws are for the following regions:

• Anglian
• North West
• Northumbrian
• South west
• Southern
• Thames
• Midlands and Severn Trent
• Yorkshire
• Wessex