Building regulations are legal standards that apply to building work in England and Wales.
These rules make sure that buildings are:
- Safe and structurally sound
- Healthy and accessible for everyone
- Energy efficient
Check which type of building control application you need and find information on full plans applications, building notices, regularisation, and reversion applications.
Why you must comply with building regulations
You must ensure your project meets building regulations before, during, and after construction.
If your building work does not meet the required standards, you can face serious legal consequences. This can include council enforcement action, fines, having to pay to alter or undo the work, or difficulties selling your property in the future without a completion certificate. Non-compliant work can also invalidate your property insurance.
The difference between planning permission and building regulations
Planning permission and building regulations are two completely separate legal requirements.
You may need both for your project. Getting planning permission does not grant building regulations approval, and you must check and apply for each separately.
What each approval covers
- Planning permission covers the appearance and use of a building, where it is located, and its impact on neighbours, highways, and the wider local area.
- Building control (building regulations) covers how a building is engineered and constructed. It ensures the structure is safe, weather-tight, energy efficient, and meets national safety and accessibility standards.
Applying for your project
Before you start any construction work:
- Check whether you need planning permission before building or altering a property
- Check whether you need building regulations approval for your specific building work
- Submit separate applications and fees to each department if your project requires both
Approval for one does not automatically guarantee or grant approval for the other.
Guidance and online tools
You can check whether your project needs building regulations approval and learn about national standards using these independent tools and guidance:
- LABC Front Door advice for home improvements: practical advice on building regulations, architectural drawings, and working with builders, provided by Local Authority Building Control.
- Planning Portal building regulations guidance: national information and regulations on home improvements, commercial projects, and construction standards.
- Planning Portal interactive house tool: a visual tool showing whether common alterations (like extensions, loft conversions, and outbuildings) require building regulations approval or planning permission, with options to book consultations with planning professionals for tailored advice on local policies and site restrictions.
- Competent person schemes on GOV.UK: check whether your project (such as replacement windows, heating system upgrades, or roof replacements) can be self-certified by a registered installer without submitting a council building control application.
- Electrical Safety First guidance and registered electricians: domestic electrical safety standards, legal requirements under Part P of the Building Regulations, and how to find a certified registered electrician.
Choosing your building control provider
You can choose who carries out your building control inspections. You can appoint either:
- Your local council building control team
- A private Registered Building Control Approver (RBCA)
If you use a registered building control approver, they will notify the council on your behalf before work starts.