Do I Need Building Regulation Approval?

It is important if you intend to carry out building work that you seek advice from your local authority Building Control at an early stage before you commence the work.  This will establish if your proposals are subject to the requirements of Building Regulations and whether or not you will need to make an application.

A Building Regulation application will normally be required if you intend to carry out any of the following work.

To erect or extend a building

• Please click here for access to interactive guide for householders.

To alter a building e.g.

• Remove an internal wall
• To form a new window or door opening
• To remove a chimney breast
• To underpin the foundations of a building
• Loft conversions

To alter the fire safety arrangements of the building in respect of:-

• The means of escape from the building
• The resistance to internal and external spread of fire

The installation, extension or alteration of services, e.g.

• The installation of appliances such as baths, showers and WC's and associated drainage.
• The installation of a small sewage treatment plant such as a septic tank
• The installation of certain boilers and heating appliances and their chimney or flue pipe. 
• If the installation is to be carried out by a registered competent person this work will not require a Building Regulation submission. Please click here for a list of competent persons schemes.

To install as a replacement:

• A window
• A roof light or roof window
• A door (being a door which together with its frame has more than 50% of its internal face area glazed)
• A space heater or hot water service boiler or a hot water boiler;
• If the installation is to be carried out by a registered competent person this work will not require a Building Regulation submission. Please click here for a list of competent persons schemes.

To alter the access and facilities to and within a building for people with disabilities.

To insert insulation material in the cavity of an external wall.

Provision of new electrical works in or about buildings.
If the installation is to be carried out by a registered competent person this work will not require a Building Regulation submission.  Please click here for a list of competent persons schemes.

To change the use of a building to a different purpose to which it is currently being used.

This includes changes of use to form:

• A dwelling
• A flat or flats - including maisonettes
• A hotel or boarding house
• An instititional building
• A public building
• Any use which is subject to Building Regulations where previously the use of the building was exempt
• The alteration of a building to create a lesser or greater number of dwellings

You do not need Building Regulation approval to:

• Replace roof coverings (providing the roof covering is exactly the same as the original material)
• Install new sanitary fittings (unless the work involves new drainage or plumbing arrangements)
• Carry out repairs providing they are of a minor nature replacing like for like.

The following list outlines the more common types of building work, which are exempt from the requirements of the Building Regulations:

Detached Buildings - i.e. Garage

A detached single storey building, having a floor area which does not exceed 30m2, which contains no sleeping accommodation and is a building no point of which is less than 1 metre from the boundary of its curtilage; or is constructed substantially of non-combustible material.

A detached building have a floor area which does not exceed 15m2, which contains no sleeping accommodation.

Conservatory, Porch or Covered Yard/Way

The extension of a building by the addition at ground floor level of - a conservatory, porch or covered yard or covered way; or a carport open on at least two sides; Where the floor area of that extension does not exceed 30m2, provided that in the case of a conservatory or porch which is wholly or partly glazed, the glazing satisfies the requirements of Part N Schedule 1 (Glazing - materials and protection).

Please note that works exempt from the Building Regulations may still require Planning Permission.  Should you be in doubt you are advised to contact our Development Control Section.

Please click here to access Building Regulation Forms.