About building control

All building work carried out in Barnet should meet current building codes and regulation requirements.

Our Building Control Service ensures that buildings are designed and constructed in accordance with the Building Regulations and associated legislation.

It is the responsibility of those carrying out the work to ensure that the provisions of the regulations are fully met. The role of Building Control is only to check that they do so.

Learn more about the building regulations application process

Difference between planning and building control

Planning seeks to guide the way our towns, cities and countryside develop. This includes the use of land and buildings, the appearance of buildings, landscaping considerations, highway access and the impact that the development will have on the general environment.

Building Regulations laws set minimum standards for the design and construction of domestic and commercial building work to ensure the health and safety for people in or around those buildings. They also include requirements to ensure that fuel and power is conserved and that facilities are provided for people, including those with disabilities, to access and move around inside buildings.

Environmental Health laws set minimum standards and ensure that residential properties are properly managed and maintained.

For many types of building work, separate approval under both regimes (separate processes) will be required. For other building work, such as internal alterations, Building Regulations approval will probably be needed, but Planning permission may not be. You may also have responsibilities under the construction health and safety regulations