Building Reg Exceptions
There are several exceptions from the requirements of building regulation compliance and control.
Agricultural buildings may be exempt from building control if they are not less than one and a half times their height from the nearest public road or the boundary of the land to which they are sited. Buildings intended to be built close to a house may be subject to control. Buildings to which the public are invited for the purpose of retailing, exhibiting, or service provision are not exempt.
Farm buildings used for packing and retail storage are not exempt. No part of any such building may be used for dwelling purposes.
A single-story building of not less than 30 m² with no sleeping accommodation, constructed substantially of non-combustible material and located at least 1 meter from the house wall or boundary, is exempt. A detached single-story building, not exceeding 15 m² with no sleeping accommodation and located at least 1 meter from the nearest house, is also exempt.
A single-story detached garage that is less than 30 m² with no sleeping accommodation, constructed of non-combustible material and located at least one meter from the nearest road, house, or boundary, is exempt.
Porches with floor areas less than 30 m² built as an annex to an existing building are exempt, provided they are more than one meter from the boundary.
Greenhouses and detached conservatories, one meter or more from the boundary with a floor area less than 30 m², are exempt.
An application for building approval is required from the building control office. The building notice procedure is an alternative to full plans procedures. The building notice procedure is only available for domestic works or very small schemes.
The building notice procedure requires the submission of a completed building notice application form. It is necessary to inform the building control department before commencing work. A standard fee is payable, and there is no provision for approval or rejection of the plan. Emphasis is based on site inspection.
A building notice will expire after three years if work has not commenced. A completion certificate is issued upon satisfactory completion.
A formal application with full plans involves lodging two copies of all drawings, a completed notice of intention, structural calculations, a written cost of work if required, and a plan fee. The Council determines the application.
Building control must be informed of various key stages in the works: commencement of operation, escalation of foundation, foundation concrete, damp-proof courses, site hardware, site concrete, and drainage completion. Site inspections are made at each stage, and inspection fees are payable.
Councils may relax most parts of the building regulations. Applications to relax fire requirements are made to the department. A relaxation may be granted where the obligations of the regulations are onerous given the circumstances, or they are impractical to implement due to unforeseen circumstances. Relaxations are generally available for older works only.