Frequently Asked Questions

A building notice is intended for simple domestic building work and assumes that the applicant/builder is fully conversant with the requirements of the Building Regulations for the proposed project.

A Building Notice cannot be used where

• the building is subject to The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (RRO)
• where it is built over or within 3m of a sewer
• where the building opens onto a private street

When a Building Notice is used, the form must be accompanied by the appropriate Building Notice fee, block plan and a location plan if the work involves a new building or extension.

If work is carried out to a heat producing appliance, it would be considered work carried out to a “controlled service or fitting” which under the building regulations means that the work is notifiable.   Different trades such as electricians, boiler engineers, etc  can be part of a Competent Persons Scheme which means they can self-certify their work and won’t require a direct application to CNC Building Control.

You can find a tradesperson suitable to carry out notifiable work by checking on the Competent Persons Schemes on website below (scroll down on this website until you see a large black box saying ‘Find a Competent Person’:

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If the installation is above ground the requirements will be applied to achieve adequate shielding of the tank from any surrounding fire and, in the case of an oil tank, containment of oil leakages so that ground water is not contaminated. Where new oil connecting pipework is proposed, a fire valve will be needed at the point where the pipe enters the building.

If you are installing an oil tank and/or connecting pipework and you employ an installer registered with OFTEC (Oil Firing Technical Association for the Petroleum Industry), you will not need to involve a Building Control Service, as they will do this for you.

If the work involves the provision of a new or replacement flue or flue liner, or the provision of a new or replacement hearth, fireplace or chimney you will need permission. for more information please see the question below Do I need permission to install, replace or alter the position of any type of fuel burning appliance (including a gas boiler with a flue)?

If the work amounts to no more than alterations to fireplaces, hearths, flues and chimneys it may not be subject to the Building Regulations. It is vital that flues should operate efficiently, and that risks of the building catching fire or of people suffering burns should be minimised.

For specific information on your project please contact us.

you will need permission if you install a flueless gas appliance, however if you employ a GAS SAFE registered installer with the relevant competencies to carry out the work, you will not need to involve a Building Control Service, as they will sort this all out for you

There are two types of system and both need permission.

• When installing or replacing a hot water cylinder within an unvented hot water storage system (i.e. a system supplied directly from the water mains with no open-ended pipe for venting with storage capacity greater than 15 litres). The requirements are for hot water to be safely stored under pressure and for the installation to be energy efficient. The cylinder should be installed by a person competent.
• When installing or replacing a hot water cylinder within a vented hot water storage system (i.e. a system fed from an open-ended pipe for venting). The requirements are for the installation to be energy efficient. If you employ an installer registered with the Institute of Plumbing for a vented system, you will not need to involve a Building Control Service.

For either type of system your installer should leave you with a completed installation record and commissioning certificate such as the one produced by the BENCHMARK scheme. Some manufacturers attach BENCHMARK certificates to cylinders ready for installers to complete

Yes, they will apply to new rainwater or foul drains inside as well as outside the building. The Building Regulations also apply to all non-mains foul sewerage arrangements (i.e. those using septic tanks), including their outlets and drainage fields.

Except in an emergency, CNC should be given at least 24 hours’ notice of any intention to repair any underground drain (section 61 of the Building Act 1984).

This is defined as Building Work, so will require permission however it is more than likely your installer will be able to carry out this work and inform CNC on your behalf.

This is defined as Building Work and will require permission. The requirements will be applied so as to ensure that the underpinning will stabilise the movement of the building, paying attention to the effect on any sewers and drains near the work.

Some minor work does not require permission, however any electrical work will have to be carried out and certified by a competent electrician or certified by a competent electrician at the relevant installation stages and an application will be required unless your electrician is also a member of a Competent Persons Scheme and is able to self-certify the work.

Your contract with the electricity distribution company has conditions about safety which must not be broken. In particular, you should not interfere with the distribution company’s equipment which includes the cables to your consumer unit or the cables up to and including the separate main isolator switch if provided.

Please note iIf your electrician is not a member of a competant person scheme you will need to submit an application.

If the installation will involve alterations, or new connections to, a drainage stack or an underground drain, you will need permission.  You should also check to find out how much information is required about the fittings you intend to use.

If you are only installing an additional fitting or fittings in the same or a new location which does not involve extensions to the drainage pipework you will not need permission.