Planning permission and building regulations
What are building regulations?
Most building work must comply with building regulations, regardless of whether planning permission is required.
Work likely to be covered includes:
- putting up a new building
- extending or materially altering an existing building - this could just be demolishing an internal wall
- providing or replacing services or fittings in a building, such as toilets, showers, sinks, hot water cylinders, drainage systems, windows and fuel-burning appliances
- work required to ensure a building will continue to comply with the regulations where a "material change of use" has occurred
- inserting insulation into a cavity wall
- underpinning foundations
There are some limited exemptions from building regulations, including ancillary buildings such as a site sales office.
Download a guide to building regulations from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister website (PDF).
Areas covered
Building regulations cover the following aspects:
- structure
- fire safety
- site preparation and resistance to moisture
- toxic substances
- resistance to the passage of sound
- ventilation
- hygiene
- drainage and waste disposal
- combustion appliances and fuel-storage systems
- protection from falling, collision and impact
- conservation of fuel and power
- access to and use of buildings
- glazing
Remember that since October 2004 businesses providing services to the public may be required to make "reasonable adjustments" to physical features of premises which may make access difficult for disabled people.
Read about business' requirements to make their buildings accessible on the Disability Rights Commission website.
Who's responsible?
The main responsibility for ensuring work complies with building regulations lies with the person carrying it out.
So if you use a builder it's their responsibility - but you should check this. Remember that if the regulations are contravened, you may receive an enforcement notice requiring you to make alterations or even take the building down.
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