Check if you need building regulations approval
You must check if you need approval before constructing or changing a building.
Our guides to renovating your home and extending your home will help you understand the building control process. These are not a substitute for professional advice, but explain how your project will be affected by building regulations.
Depending on your project, you may need both building regulations approval and planning permission.
When you need approval
Building regulations approval is usually required for:
- house extensions
- loft conversions
- converting a garage into a spare room
- a car port if there are fewer than two open sides or the floor area is over 30 square metres
- underpinning a building
- re-roofing a house
- changes to the internal structure of a house
- converting a house into flats
- installing a toilet
- replacing windows
- electrical works
- an attached or detached garage over 30 square metres
- renovating or replacing any wall, floor or roof which separates a heated space from outside (e.g. replastering or rendering large areas of exterior walls, re-tiling a roof or replacing a concrete floor)
You could need approval for certain projects or work not listed here so check with the Planning Portal for more details.
Special rules apply to emergency boiler repairs or heating systems.
Find out how to apply for building regulations approval.
When you may not need approval
You do not need to get approval yourself if you use someone registered with a competent person scheme.
Approval is usually not required for exempt projects such as:
- changes to existing electrical circuits (except around baths and showers)
- most repairs, replacements and maintenance work (except heating systems, oil tanks, fuse boxes and glazing units)
- a car port with at least two open sides and less than 30 square metres floor area
- building a garden wall (some projects may require approval)
- detached garages (some projects may require approval so please check)