What are Building Regulations?
Building Regulations are a set of standards for the design and construction of buildings. They also provide requirements for disabled people and set standards for the conservation of fuel and power.
Do I need Building Regulation Approval?
Most building work will require Building Regulation Approval. This includes:
- When you erect or extend a building
- When you install cavity wall insulation
- When you extend or alter a controlled service within a building
- When you make a material change of use to a building
- When you change the buildings use
- When you install replacement windows (unless you use a FENSA registered company)
- When you install a new gas boiler (unless you use a CORGI registered company)
- When you install certain electrics (unless you use a Part P registered company)
What is exempt?
Some buildings or building work is exempt. See the Exempt Work page.
Do I have to pay?
With the exception of exempted work, a fee will be payable. Please refer to the Fee Sheets on the Forms and Fee page.
I have decided I need Building Regulations. What do I do next?
You have to decide which of the two procedures you wish to use: Full Plans or Building Notice.
Note - If you are proposing work to an existing or a new commercial property you must deposit Full Plans, as consultation with the Fire Authority will be required.
What is the difference between Full Plans and a Building Notice?
If you use the Full Plans procedure your plans will be passed by us and, provided you build to these plans, you or your builder know exactly what has to be done at each stage.
If you use the Building Notice procedure your work will be checked by us as you go, but be aware that if you build something which is found to be incorrect, remedial work can be expensive.
What information is required?
For a Building notice you need to provide the minimum as specified on our Guidance Notes page.
For Full Plans you need to provide information as a Building Notice plus a full specification and scaled drawings.
See the Glossary page for explanations.
