Get building regulations approval

Apply for building notice

Building notice applications are for small, simple domestic building works. They are for things like extensions or alterations. This application cannot be used in schools, offices, shops or workplaces.

You must notify us at least 2 working days before work commences at your site. A building control officer will visit the site regularly to make sure the work meets building regulations.

A building notice application is faster. But, there is less certainty that the work follows the building rules. And, we will not issue any formal approval. The work must follow building regulations. If it does not, this may cause problems. It could cause delays or costly fixes.

Apply for full plans

You can submit a full plan application for any building work, but you must submit one for:

• large buildings
• schools
• shops
• offices
• railway premises
• factories
• hotels 

A full plans application comprises a plan assessment stage and a site inspection stage.

Plan assessment

1. Complete the full plans application form and submit detailed plans or drawings before work commences.
2. We will check your plans or drawings to make sure that they comply with the building regulations.
3. We may need to write to you to ensure compliance, before issuing an approval notice.

Site inspection

1. Complete the form to request a site visit. If you make a request by 5pm, we will try to visit the next working day. 
2. A building control officer will also continue to visit at regular intervals to make sure that the work meets building regulations.
3. Your building works must reflect the plans that have been approved by us at the plan assessment stage.
4. After work has started, we will inspect the building. Then, we will invoice you for the inspection charge.
5. Once your plans and the final inspection show that you followed building regulations, we will give you a completion certificate.

Apply for regularisation

Any building work done after 11 November 1985 without consent from building control is unauthorised. You can still apply for building control consent for these works. It’s called regularisation.

After you complete and send your application, we will contact you. We will inspect the property. We will inform you if we need anything to be able to issue a regularisation certificate.

You may need to expose parts of the property. We need to check that the work follows building regulations.

Apply for a section 30 consent

Certain special or temporary structures, like radio masts and event stands, or tall freestanding walls, need building control consent.

Consents either have no time limit or can be renewed. The time depends on how long the structure will exist.

Apply for a demolition

If you plan to do a demolition, you must give us written notice before it happens. You must give:

• the location address of the building to be demolished as set out on an Ordnance Survey map
• a description of the nature of the works that are to be carried out
• the contact details of the demolition contractor if the demolition contractor does not serve the demolition notice
• confirmation that the demolition notice has also been served to any adjacent landowners
• that the demolition notice has also been served to the appropriate gas and electricity companies

You must wait for our counter notice before you start the demolition. It will outline the conditions you must meet when doing the demolition. This process can take up to 6 weeks.

We will visit the demolition site to make sure you are complying with our counter notice.

We are entitled to recover any expenses reasonably incurred for a demolition.

Check the building control charges so you know what you'll need to pay.