How to Apply for Building Regulations Approval

What This Requirement Covers

Most building work in England requires Building Regulations approval. This guide walks through the process of applying for approval, from determining whether your project needs approval to obtaining the completion certificate.

Key Requirements

Step 1: Determine Whether Approval Is Needed

1. Check if the work is exempt (see Building Regulations exemptions)
2. Check if a competent person scheme covers the work (e.g., FENSA for windows, Gas Safe for boilers, NICEIC for electrics)
3. If not exempt and not covered by a competent person scheme, you need Building Regulations approval

Step 2: Choose Your Building Control Body

1. Local Authority Building Control (LABC): The default option; apply directly to your council
2. Registered Building Control Approver (RBCA): A private sector alternative; they submit an initial notice to the local authority

Step 3: Choose Your Application Type

1. Full Plans Application: Submit detailed drawings and specifications for formal approval before starting work. Recommended for complex work.
2. Building Notice: Notify Building Control that work is about to start; no detailed plans required. Suitable for straightforward domestic work.

Step 4: Prepare Your Submission

For a full plans application, typical documents include

1. Completed application form
2. Site plan (1:1250)
3. Floor plans, elevations, and sections (1:50 or 1:100)
4. Construction details (wall build-ups, foundation details, insulation specifications)
5. Structural calculations (for structural work)
6. SAP calculation (for new dwellings or extensions)
7. Drainage layout
8. Ventilation strategy
9. Fire strategy (for complex or non-domestic buildings)

Step 5: Pay the Fee

Building control fees are split into

1. Plan charge: Payable on submission of the application
2. Inspection charge: Payable on commencement of work (or sometimes invoiced after inspections)
3. Fees vary by local authority and by the type and size of work

Step 6: Assessment and Approval

1. For full plans applications, Building Control assesses the plans and issues a decision within 5 weeks (or up to 8 weeks by agreement)
2. The decision may be: approved, approved with conditions, or rejected with reasons
3. For building notices, there is no formal approval; compliance is checked during inspections

Step 7: Construction and Inspections

Key inspection stages (notify Building Control before each)

1. Commencement
2. Foundation excavation
3. Damp-proof course
4. Drainage (before backfilling)
5. Structural elements (steelwork, reinforcement)
6. Pre-plaster (first fix)
7. Completion

Step 8: Completion Certificate

1. Request a completion inspection when the work is finished
2. Provide all required certificates and test results
3. Building Control issues the completion certificate when satisfied

Practical Compliance Tips

1. Submit a full plans application for any work involving structural changes, drainage, or fire safety; the upfront certainty is worth the additional fee
2. Start the application process early; assessment periods and queries can add weeks to the programme
3. Keep a list of all certificates needed for completion and collect them during construction, not at the end
4. Respond promptly to Building Control queries; unresolved queries hold up the approval
5. Do not start notifiable work before submitting the application; it is a legal requirement to notify before commencement
6. Keep copies of the approval, all correspondence, and the completion certificate with the property records
7. If in doubt about whether work needs approval, contact your local Building Control department for advice