The short answer: it depends on how the structure is being used. A marquee put up for a one-off event can typically stay in place for a matter of days without triggering planning rules. A long-term structure, the kind we specialise in at Trafalgar Structures, can realistically remain in place for months, or even several years, provided it’s specified, maintained, and (where necessary) permitted correctly from the outset. As an award-winning temporary structure hire company operating since 2011, long-term hire is one of the areas we’re asked about most, so here’s a practical answer to how long your structure can actually stay up, and what affects that.

Short-Term Use vs Long-Term Hire

There’s an important distinction between a structure that’s up for a short event and one that’s part of a long-term hire. Short-term, event-style use is generally governed by the well-known ’28-day rule’ for temporary land use, but that’s a planning question, not a structural one, and we’ve covered it in full in our guide to planning permission for marquees and structures. This post is about the practical side: once you’re past that short-term window and into genuine long-term hire, how long can the structure itself realistically stay up?

How Long Do Our Long-Term Structures Typically Stay Up?

In practice, long-term hires with us commonly run from several months to multiple years, depending on the purpose. Schools often need extra space for a term, an academic year, or until a permanent building project completes. Construction sites frequently need site accommodation or storage space for the duration of a build, which can run one to three years or more. Hospitality venues sometimes keep a structure up year-round to permanently extend their covered space or for a few weeks to months to cover peak demand. There’s no fixed floor or ceiling on how long a well-specified, well-maintained structure can stay in place. The limiting factors are practical and regulatory, not the structure itself.

What Actually Affects How Long a Structure Can Stay Up

Build Specification

Structures built for long-term hire use heavier-duty frames, higher-grade PVC, and reinforced fixings than short-term event marquees. This is the single biggest factor in how long a structure can realistically stay up.

Weatherproofing and Maintenance

Long-term structures need periodic checks (panel tension, guttering, ventilation, and general wear) to keep performing through multiple seasons. Scheduled maintenance visits are available on our long-term hire and lease plans, so upkeep isn’t left to chance.

Ground Conditions and Anchoring

How a structure is anchored, whether ground stakes on grass or water/concrete ballast on hard standing, affects how well it holds up over an extended period, particularly through winter weather.

Planning Permission Duration

If planning permission was required and granted, it may come with a fixed time limit set by the local authority, after which it needs renewing. This is a regulatory limit rather than a structural one. See our planning permission guide for how that process works.

Insurance and Safety Inspections

Longer hires typically involve periodic structural safety checks, particularly for larger or higher-specification structures, to keep insurance and compliance current for the duration of the hire.

Extending or Renewing a Long-Term Hire

If your circumstances change and you need your structure for longer than originally planned, get in touch before the current hire period ends. We’ll carry out a condition check, confirm whether any planning permission needs renewing, and extend the hire agreement. Planning ahead avoids any gap between hire periods or unnecessary removal and re-installation.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long can you hire a marquee for on a long-term basis?

There’s no fixed maximum. Long-term hires with us commonly run from several months to multiple years, depending on your project and any planning permission in place.

Can a temporary structure stay up all year round?

Yes, provided it’s built and maintained for long-term use. Our long-term structures are specified for year-round weather, not just fair-weather events.

Do I need to renew planning permission for a long-term structure?

If your original permission included a time limit, yes. It will need renewing before it expires. See our planning permission guide for the detail, or ask our team when you enquire.

How often should a long-term structure be inspected?

Periodic maintenance and safety checks are available on our long-term hire and lease plans. Frequency depends on the structure’s size, specification, and site conditions.

Why Choose Trafalgar Structures for Long-Term Hire

We’ve been helping schools, construction sites, and hospitality venues extend their space since 2011. We hold ourselves to high standards of social and environmental responsibility in how we build, maintain, and eventually remove every structure we install. Long-term hire is a core part of what we do, not an add-on, so whether you need extra space for a term or several years, we’ll help you plan it properly from day one.

Talk to Us About Your Long-Term Hire

Use our online calculator for an instant estimate, or get in touch to talk through your project, including how long you’re likely to need the space and whether planning permission applies.