How to make a Building Regulations application

What are Building Regulations?

Full plans application

Building notice application

Regularisation certificate application

Building Regulations applications charges

Site inspections

Further information and advice

National building regulations exist to ensure a robust standard of construction for the health and safety of people in and around all types of buildings. Building Regulations promote:

• Standards for most aspects of a building's construction, including its structure, fire safety, sound insulation, drainage, ventilation and electrical safety.
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• Energy efficiency in buildings.
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• The needs of all people, including those with disabilities, in accessing and moving around buildings. They set standards for buildings to be accessible and hazard-free wherever possible.

You can download a booklet explaining Building Regulations (new window) in detail from the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) website and further information about Building Regulations (new window) is available on the Planning Portal website.

Three different types of Building Regulations applications can be made -  a full plans application, a building notice application and a regularisation certificate application - all of which are described below.

You may use a full plans application for any type of work. This option requires the submission of scaled drawings together with any structural calculations and other information to demonstrate how the building work will meet Building Regulations.

You must send us a full plans application if the building is used for a ‘relevant use’ and the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies to the work you are planning to do. If the building will be used for a 'relevant use', you should also include an extra set of plans (not required if you submit your plans online) which we will use to consult with the fire authority.

The drawings and other information will be checked by our building control officers for compliance with Building Regulations. Details of any non-compliance will be notified, and amended drawings or additional information may be requested. Once any outstanding items have been resolved an approval notice will be issued.

Full plans applications benefit from the issue of an approval notice and provision of a certificate on satisfactory completion of the works. Full plans approval gives you the protection that if the work is carried out in accordance with the approved drawings it will meet with Building Regulations.

You must commence the work within three years from the date the plans are deposited with the Council, after that the plans will become void and you will no longer have Building Regulations approval for your proposals.

How to apply

Submit a full plans application online (new window) - just select this link and follow the instructions on screen.

Alternatively, you can print off an application form and submit your application by post or in person.

• Printable application form (new window PDF 55KB).

The building notice option for complying with Building Regulations was introduced to permit smaller projects of a simple nature to proceed without delay.

Drawings and any other details submitted with the building notice application are treated for information only and are not subject to formal approval or rejection. However, Suffolk Coastal’s building control team may ask for additional details or engineer’s designs at any stage to show that the work will comply with Building Regulation standards.

As no formal approval is given on a building notice, you do not receive the same protection provided by an approval of the drawings under the full plans option. Completion certificates are issued at the end of the work providing all the Building Regulations have been met.

You may use the building notice option if:

• The building is not used for a 'relevant use' and the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 does not apply to the work you are planning to do.
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• The work does not involve the construction, extension or underpinning of a building, which is being built over or within 3 metres of a public sewer or disposal main.
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• The work, which includes the erection of a building, does not front on to a private street.

'Relevant use' means that the building is used as a workplace and the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies to it, or it is listed in the Fire Precautions Act (this includes shops, offices, hotels, hostels for hotel staff, boarding houses and factories).

You must commence the proposed work within three years of the date you give notice to the Council, after that your building notice will no longer be valid and you will have to make a new application if you still wish to carry out the work.

How to apply

Submit a building notice application online (new window) - just select this link and follow the instructions on screen.

Alternatively, you can print off an application form and submit your application by post or in person.

• Printable application form (new window PDF 55KB).

When building work has already been carried out, but a formal application under the Building Regulations has not been made, and you need the work to be formally recognised as satisfying the regulations, you can submit a regularisation certificate application.

The owner of the building is under no obligation to submit a regularisation certificate application to the local authority; equally, the local authority is under no obligation to accept a regularisation certificate application, nor having accepted the application issue a regularisation certificate, unless the work is shown or made to comply with reasonable requirements.

The giving of this notice does not prejudice the enforcement powers contained in the Building Act, which remains available to the local authority.

Apart from minor works that do not affect the layout of the building, detailed plans should be sent showing how the work complies with the regulations. As much detail as possible should be shown to reduce the time spent in contacting you for further information. We may require you to open up the work for inspection where necessary and the applicant must be willing to comply with all such reasonable requests.

How to apply

Submit a regularisation application online (new window) - just select this link and follow the instructions on screen.

Alternatively, you can print off an application form and submit your application by post or in person.

• Printable application form (new window PDF 55KB).

Charges are made for the Building Regulation service. The total charge payable is the same whether the full plans or building notice options are chosen.

Full plans charges are normally payable in two stages. The first part is payable when the application is submitted and the second part is payable following commencement of works on site. In the case of certain minor works the full fee is payable when the application is submitted. For a building notice a single charge is payable upon submission of the application.

Where estimated costs are used for the calculation of charges (see table 3 of the guide to Building Regulations charges which you can view by following the link below) these should be based upon the current RICS Review of Building Prices.

• Building Regulation charges from 1 May 2008 (new window PDF 128KB)

No fees are payable in certain cases where the work consists solely of providing facilities for someone with disabilities.

Follow this link for help with downloading and opening PDF files.

There are a number of statutory inspections which must be carried out at various stages, depending on the works. For your guidance an inspection request list is sent out with every application acknowlegement. This gives details of when you or your builder must contact us for an inspection. These stages are as follows:

• Commencement of work.
• Foundation excavations.
• Concrete in foundations.
• Oversite preparation.
• Damp-proof course.
• Drainage before covering.
• Drainage after haunching or covering.
• Occupation of the building or part of the building.
• Completion of work.

Two working days notice are required for commencement of work and one working day for all other inspections. We operate a same day service for most inspections provided the inspection is booked before 10.00am that day.

It may also be necessary for the inspecting officer to carry out additional inspections to ensure compliance with Building Regulations. Completion certificates are issued at the end of the work providing all the Building Regulations have been met.

Please remember that you may also need planning permission for your proposal. For more information go to the planning permission and development control webpages or contact the Planning Helpdesk on 01394 444403 / 444423 / 444428 or email d.c.admin@suffolkcoastal.gov.uk.

Please feel free to contact us to discuss your application. You can contact us on 01394 444219, email building.control@suffolkcoastal.gov.uk or write to us at:

Building Control,
Suffolk Coastal District Council,
Council Offices,
Melton Hill,
Woodbridge IP12 1AU.

You are also welcome to visit us but it is best to call and make an appointment first.