Building Control approval is required for a wide range of building work, but not all work is notifiable. Understanding the threshold helps homeowners plan projects without inadvertently carrying out notifiable work without approval, or wasting time seeking approval that is not required.

Work That Requires Building Control

Building Control approval is required for the erection of new buildings or extensions of any size that create new habitable accommodation, loft conversions that create habitable rooms, structural alterations including removing load-bearing walls, new or replacement staircase installations, roof replacements that involve changes to the structure or thermal performance, insertion of new windows or doors that require structural alteration, full rewiring of the electrical installation, installation of new central heating systems, new or significantly altered drainage systems, garage conversions to habitable use, and changes of use of parts of a building.

Competent Persons Schemes

Certain types of work that would otherwise require Building Control approval can be self-certified by registered contractors under Competent Persons Schemes. This includes electrical installation work carried out by NICEIC or NAPIT registered electricians, gas appliance installation by Gas Safe registered engineers, replacement windows and doors by FENSA or CERTASS registered companies, and solid fuel appliance installation by HETAS registered contractors. These contractors notify the local authority directly and issue compliance certificates without a separate Building Control application.

Work That Does Not Require Building Control

Minor repairs that are like-for-like replacements of existing elements without any structural alteration, internal decorating and redecoration, most garden buildings and outbuildings that are not used as habitable rooms, patios, driveways, and external hard landscaping, and minor plumbing repairs that do not involve new drainage connections are generally exempt from Building Control. The threshold is broadly whether the work involves structural elements, fire safety, thermal performance, or the adequacy of services, rather than surface-level maintenance and decoration.

Summary

Building Control is required for new buildings, extensions, loft conversions, structural alterations, full rewires, new heating systems, drainage changes, and changes of use. Competent Persons Scheme contractors self-certify eligible work. Minor repairs, redecoration, driveways, and non-habitable garden buildings generally do not require Building Control. A pre-application enquiry confirms the position for any project where the requirement is unclear.