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Although there is legislation in many European countries to support the establishment of Home Zones, there is as yet no formal UK legislation to enable them. Even so, in early 1988 Helen Brinton, member for Peterborough, introduced a private members bill, under the ten-minute rule, which would have given legal priority to pedestrians and cyclists in designing Home Zones, but unfortunately it did not become law.

There was legislation introduced in June 1999 which gave local councils greater freedom to establish specific 20 mph limits. However this limit is much higher than in continental Home Zones, eg in Denmark the speed limit for Home Zones is 15 kph (10 mph). Home Zones were finally made official in the Transport 2000 Act. The legislation allows local authorities to designate any road within their area a Home Zone. The enabling legislation is included, along with Quiet Lanes, in the Transport Act 2000 (Section 268). This document can be accessed at the Homezonechallenge website.

Mark Lazarowicz proposed the Road Safety Bill 2003 (permitting local authorities to introduce 10mph speed limits in Home Zones) to the House of Commons under the Ten Minute rule in June 2003.

In September 2003 the Morice Town Home Zone in Plymouth was selected to have the first and only pilot 10mph Zone in the UK. Morice Town has been chosen by the Department for Transport to trial the '10mph MAX' plates that have been positioned at the nine gateways marking the Zone.

The Department of Transport issued a consultation paper on Quiet Lanes and Homes Zones in August 2004. Deadline for responses is 19 Nov 2004.