Building Regulation applications can be made either to the Local Authority where the work is being carried out or to an Approved Inspector. In some cases, self-certification or a competent person scheme can be used.

Local Authority Building Control Service

Each local authority in England and Wales has a Building Control section and it is their duty to see that building work complies with the Building Regulations - except where it is under the control of an Approved Inspector.

They will deal with checking that any plans meet with the regulations and carry out inspections of the work as they progress. They will be responsible for issuing a plan certificate and a completion certificate.

Approved Inspector's Building Control Service

Approved Inspectors are companies or individuals authorised under the Building Act 1984 to carry out building control work in England and Wales.

When you use an approved inspector, they will take on responsibility for plan checking and inspection of your building work. The procedure requires you and the approved inspector jointly to notify your local authority of your intended building work on what is called an initial notice. Once this notice has been accepted by your local authority the responsibility for plan checking and site inspection will be formally placed on the approved inspector.

An approved inspector will:

• advise you on how the Building Regulations apply to your work
• check your plans
• issue a plans certificate (if requested)
• inspect the work as it progresses
• issue a final certificate.

 A list of approved inspectors can be viewed at the Association of Corporate Approved Inspectors. 

Competent person schemes and self certification

Competent person schemes allow individuals and enterprises who are competent in their field, to self-certify that their work complies with the Building Regulations as an alternative to submitting a building notice or using an approved inspector and thus incurring their fees. The competent person self-certifies that the work is in compliance with the Building Regulations.

In all schemes, the competent person reports the work to the scheme organiser, who in turn informs the local authority or Approved Inspector that work has taken place and issues a certificate to the customer. This reporting process must be completed within 30 days of the work being finished.

As procedures can vary with approved inspectors, we have summarized the usual method of making a building regulations application to a Local Authority. In most cases, this will be a similar process with approved inspectors but you should check the exact procedure with any specific inspector that you have chosen.

There are three ways in which applications can be made to the local authority:

• Full Plans: this type of application requires detailed drawings to be submitted to the local authority along with the relevant fee for the work being undertaken. The plans are checked and an approval notice is issued before work commences. This process can take up to 8 weeks dependant on the project but in most cases it will be completed before this. 
   
• Building Notice: this type of application is a simpler procedure, but cannot be used for commercial developments. It is not usually advisable for extensions and new buildings. Basic details and the relevant fee are required. In this case the plans are not checked and therefore an approval notice is not issued. Instead, work is allowed to commence with regular site inspections made at agreed stages of construction.

• Regularisation Application: this type of application deals with certifying unauthorized work which has been carried out in order to bring it in line with the relevant Regulatory requirements.  It only deals with works carried out on or after 11 November 1985 and can involve opening up works, carrying out tests and/or sampling of materials.

For clarification on which application type would be suitable for your project and for information on the fees to be paid, speak to your local building control office.

Once you are ready to start work on the project you will need to have various stages of construction inspected by the building control surveyor. For clarification on what needs to be inspected on your project and how to arrange an inspection contact your building control office. Once all stages have been inspected and meet the regulations the project will be completed and a completion certificate will be issued.

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