Submitting an application to Building Control
The Building Control Online Submission facility is currently unavailable. We apologise for this inconvenience.
Please email us at
buildingcontrol@cardiff.gov.uk or call us on 029 2233 0382 / 0383 / 0381 so we can assist you with submitting your application.
Once you have established that you need our approval, there are two ways in which you can apply.
Full plans procedure
This method requires the submission of fully detailed plans and specifications sufficient to demonstrate that the proposed work will satisfy all of the relevant schedule 1 requirements detailed in the building regulations.
Once we have checked to confirm these plans and specifications show full compliance with building regulations, we’ll issue an approval notice that you can use to prove plans were passed.
The advantages of this procedure are that you will:
- receive a formal decision after the checking – usually within 3 weeks,
- receive compliance advice at the design stage of your project
- receive a decision notice to show to financial institutions, solicitors, surveyors etc., when seeking loans or moving home.
- have the comfort that any work completed in accordance with the plans will satisfy the requirements of the regulations.
How to submit a full plans application
Your application must include the following:
- all detailed plans, sections and elevations, incorporating all necessary technical notes, supporting calculations and specifications,
- a 1:1250 scale plan showing the size and position of the building, or the building as extended, and its relationship to adjoining boundaries (i.e. block plans), and
Building notice procedure
This is a useful procedure for, but not exclusively, domestic type projects when the person carrying out the work is familiar with the requirements of the regulations e.g. where a builder may specialises in e.g. extension, alteration or (loft) conversion work which is largely repetitive and similar in requirements under the building regulations.
This procedure saves time and cost because it does not involve the preparation and submission of fully detailed plans and specifications.
With the building notice procedure the works are still inspected at various stages as they proceed to ensure compliance with building regulations can be achieved. Depending on the nature and complexity of the work being undertaken you may be requested to submit further information to clarify the suitability of the work.
A building notice cannot be used when the proposed works require consultation to take place with the Fire Service i.e. where the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order applies.
How to submit a Building Notice
Your application must include the following:
- A 1:1250 scale plan showing the size and position of the building, or the building as extended, and its relationship to adjoining boundaries (commonly known as block plans)
- A description/details of the work proposed
Neither a full plans nor building notice application will be treated as submitted or processed until the relevant charge has been paid. Payments must be made over the phone.
The total charge payable is exactly the same whether using the full plans or building notice procedure. However, with the full plans procedure the total charge is payable in two instalments, a submission charge payable when you make your application and an inspection charge payable when you commence work on site. Using the building notice procedure both the submission charge and the inspection charge must be paid when you make your application.
What’s next?
With the full plans procedure we advise that you wait until we have checked and approved your detailed plans and specifications before you start the work.
However, work on site can start two working days after we have received your application (Full Plans or Building Notice) provided you inform us of your intention two days prior to commencing.
Further inspection will then be arranged and carried out to enable compliance with the relevant requirements of the building regulations to be achieved. However, you are responsible for providing ‘statutory’ notifications of any of the nine listed stages of work appropriate to the building work you are carrying out. For example:
- Commencement
- Excavation for foundations
- Foundation concrete laid
- Damp proof course laid
- Over site ready for concreting (including damp proof membrane and insulation)
- Drains laid and bedded
- Drains covered and back-filled ready for test witnessing
- Occupation
- Completion of the work or occupation of the building or area affected by the work whichever is sooner.
When a satisfactory completion inspection has been carried out we will issue a completion certificate. This is a very important document and will be required if you ever decide to sell your property or raise capital against it.