Volume 1
Figure 2.1 The building control process
Start
No
Do Building Regulations apply to the work? No notification required
Yes
No
Has the work commenced? The work may be checked by the local authority or an approved inspector or carried
out by a competent person
Yes
Apply to the local authority
No
Is all the building work covered by a competent person scheme or a third-party
scheme for certification?
The work may be checked Yes
by the local authority or an
approved inspector. Work No need to submit a notice to the local authority. The competent person or the
covered by a competent scheme operator will notify the local authority of the work and provide them and the
person scheme or a building occupier with a certificate of completion within 30 days of completion of
third-party scheme for the work
certification can take place
at the same time
Local authority route Approved inspector route
Local authority building control under the Building Regulations Approved inspectors under the Building (Approved
2010 Inspectors etc.) Regulations 2010
Does the work involve any of the following: In conjunction with the approved inspector an initial
1. Erecting or working on a building where the Regulatory Reform notice must be given to the local authority
(Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies or will apply after the work is
complete?
2. Erecting a building that fronts a private street?
Is initial notice Provide additional
3. Erecting a building over a sewer?
accepted by the information, amend notice
Yes No local authority? No or submit application to
local authority
The applicant must The applicant may deposit a building Yes
deposit a full plans notice application – additional plans and
application details may be requested by the local
Request plan assessment and plans certificate, if
authority
desired. Where applicable, plans certificate is issued
to both client and local authority
The local authority must provide a substantive assessment of
the plans and details and must approve or reject plans within
Agree site inspection plan with approved
five weeks or two months (with agreement). The local authority
inspector
must consult with the fire authority and, where appropriate,
the sewerage undertaker and consider their views
The approved inspector must consult the fire
authority and, where appropriate, the sewerage
Work may start after the local authority has had at least two clear
undertaker, taking due regard of their views. The
working days’ notice. If the full plans application or submitted
plans certificate or final certificate cannot be issued
details under a building notice have not been assessed and
until 15 working days have elapsed
approved, the work will be deemed ‘at risk’
The local authority will provide an inspection framework and must Where the approved inspector is satisfied that work
be notified at these certain stages in order for inspection to take complies with the Building Regulations, it will issue a
place. Where the local authority is satisfied that work complies final certificate to both the applicant and the local
with the Building Regulations, it will issue a completion certificate authority within eight weeks of completion1
NOTES:
1. The approved inspector must issue a final certificate within four weeks of occupation for buildings other than dwellings or
eight weeks for dwellings. Regulation 17(7) of the Approved Inspectors Regulations allows a local authority to extend these
time periods either before or after expiry.
Refer to Volume 2, Chapter E for details of approved inspectors’ initial notices.
More information on the building control process can be found in Volume 2, Chapter A.
12 Overview Manual to the Building Regulations
