Building regulations set minimum standards for how buildings are designed, built and altered. This is to ensure the health and safety of people using the building, buildings and their services are energy efficient and people can easily access and move around inside a building.
A building regulation application is necessary for most building works (except for works of repair or exempt works) including:
You will need building regulations if you are;
- Erecting a new building
- Extending or altering an existing building
- Converting a loft for use as a room
- Changing the use of a building
- Underpinning a building
- Installing or altering drainage
- Installing heating appliances, hot water storage systems or ventilation systems
- Installing solar panels
- Installing replacement glazed windows, doors and roof lights
- Altering or installing a domestic electrical installation
- Renovating existing walls, roofs and floors or works affecting the energy performance of a building
If the works you're carrying out are not listed above or you are unsure whether your works require building regulations, please complete our enquiry form providing as much detail as possible about your proposed works including the address.
Planning permission
Building regulations approval is different from planning permission which deals with the correct use of land, the appearance of buildings, highway access and the impact of the development on the environment.
For most types of work you will need to have building regulation approval as well as obtaining planning permission. This means that you will need to make separate applications for planning permission and building regulation approval.
Further information is available on the Communities and Local Government website. Simple informal visual guides outline what planning permission and building regulation approval you may need for different types of building works.