Most building work will require building regulations permission. This is a different requirement to planning permission, and must be applied for separately. Special rules also apply to Listed Buildings and buildings in Conservation Areas.

Permission is required for:

• Construction of new buildings, such as dwellings, shops, offices, factories, and all other major buildings.
• Most extensions to buildings, with the exception of porches or conservatories (see below).
• Structural alterations, such as removing a load-bearing wall.
• Installation of heating, hot water and air conditioning systems.
• Installing additional bathroom fittings
• Domestic electrical installations.
• Alterations to drainage systems.
• Re-roofing with different materials.
• Replacing windows, doors or rooflights.
• Underpinning a building
• Renovating a thermal element e.g. walls, floors and roofs.
• Changing the energy status of a building
• Changing the use of a building e.g. barn conversions
  

Permission is not required for:

• Detached buildings with a floor area not exceeding 30m², which do not contain sleeping accommodation, and are located at least one metre away from the boundary of the property, or are made out of mostly non-combustible materials.
• Porches or conservatories with a floor area not exceeding 30m².
• Carports open on at least two sides.
• Covered walkways.
• Most agricultural buildings, if they are away from houses and have a good means of escape in case of fire.
• Temporary buildings that are not intended to remain in place for more than 28 days.

However, for domestic work, even if a building is exempt from Building Regulations Approval, you may still need to comply with Part P of the Building Regulations, which covers electrical safety.

Self-Certified Contractors

To make it easier to get approval, the government has established competent person schemes. These enable contractors approved by certain trade bodies to issue Building Regulations Compliance Certificates. These include: (all links are external sites)

• FENSA: Contractors registered with FENSA may issue certificates for replacement windows, doors and rooflights.
• CORGI: Registered CORGI installers may issue certificates for installation and alteration of gas heating and hot water systems.
• NICEIC, ELECSA, NAPIT: contractors registered with these organisations may carry out electrical and other work.
• OFTEC: Registered OFTEC installers may issue certificates for installation and alteration of oil burning boilers and appliances.
• HETAS: Registered HETAS installers may issue certificates for installation and alteration of solid fuel burning boilers and appliances.

If you do use a self-certified contractor, you must make sure they are registered for the work being done. When the work is completed, they must issue you with a certificate to confirm that the work complies with the building regulations.

»  How to Apply for Building Regulations Approval

Contact Details

South Derbyshire District Council
Building Control Services
Civic Offices
Civic Way
Swadlincote
Derbyshire
DE11 0AH

Tel: 01283 228706
Fax: 01283 595850
Online: general online enquiry form
E-mail: building.control@south-derbys.gov.uk

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