When do you need to apply for Building Regulations approval
You must apply for Building Regulations approval if you plan to carry out any of the following, this list is not conclusive:
New build
- Construct a new building, such as a new home or non-domestic building
Extensions
- Extend an existing building whether domestic or non-domestic, unless the extension is a porch or a conservatory, (conditions do apply)
- Build a large conservatory
Approval is required if:
The floor area is more than 30m2, or the conservatory does not meet all the following exemption conditions:- At least 75% of the roof and 50% of the walls are made of translucent material
- It is thermally separated from the main dwelling by doors, walls, and windows with equivalent U-values and draught-proofing
- The dwelling's heating system is not extended into the conservatory
- Loft conversions and roof space alterations to create a new room in the roof space
Internal/external alterations
- Alter an existing building by removing or modifying structural elements, such as load-bearing walls, chimney stacks, structural or fire-protecting walls (e.g. to form a new openings), changing the internal layout by taking down walls
- Underpinning all or part of a building
- Alterations to drainage systems, heating systems and hot water systems
- Work on Thermal Elements
Includes work such as:- Re-roofing
- External rendering or cladding by the addition of a new or replacement layer
- Replacing a ground floor
- Re-plastering internally by the addition of a new or replacement layer
Material change of use of a building
- Where there is a change in the purposes for which or the circumstances in which a building is used, so that after that change:
- the building is used as a dwelling, ("dwelling” includes a dwelling-house and a flat)
- the building contains a flat
- the building is no longer an exempt building
- the building, which contains at least one dwelling, contains a greater or lesser number of dwellings
- the building is used as a shop
- (Others apply)
Disabled access and facilities - there are exceptions
- Carrying out work to improve access for disabled people or to install suitable facilities.
Self-certification schemes and exemptions from requirement to deposit an application
- Some work types can be carried out by persons under self-certification schemes. Self-certification schemes are set up by the Government to allow approved tradespeople and companies to self-certify that their work meets the requirements of the Building Regulations. This means they don’t need to make a separate application to Building Control or pay an additional fee
- There are many different self-certification schemes, covering a wide range of work—from replacing windows, installing boilers, to carrying out electrical installations. A full list of approved schemes is available on the Government website
- When the work is finished, the registered installer has 30 days to notify their scheme provider, who then passes the information on to the local authority Building Control team. The homeowner also receives a certificate for their records, and the work is officially logged in the local authority’s database
Unauthorised building work
- There are occasions when building work has been carried out without the benefit of a Building Regulation application. When this happens, we may be able to issue a Regularisation Certificate to legitimise the unauthorised work