Building regulations focus on the actual construction of the work to ensure that work is safe, has structural integrity, is energy efficient and takes account of disabled access.

Planning permission assesses suitability in relation to land use, appearance and environmental impact. A project may require both building control approval and planning permission.  Visit our About building regulations page for more information.

Building regulations apply to most new buildings, certain alterations and changes to a building’s use. In general, formal approval is needed for most types of building work. Visit our Do I need building control page for more information.

A full plans application is recommended for more complex projects and includes detailed drawings, design details, specifications and calculations. A building notice is best for simple domestic projects where detailed plans aren’t required. This route often allows you to start work 48 hours after application. Visit our Building control guidance page for more information.

It’s not compulsory but it can be very helpful when deciding if you need to make an application and which type of application you need. You can contact us at building.control@crawley.gov.uk or call 01293 438188.

You need to apply before any work is started.  For a full plans application, approval normally takes around five weeks. For a building notice you can usually start work within 48 hours. Visit our Building control applications page for more information.

You can apply online or via email. Visit our Building control applications page for more information.

Our Building control applications page has information on building control fees and when they should be paid.

To reduce the risk of non-compliance we strongly advise that you wait until your application has been approved before starting any work. When you do start work, you must first arrange for an initial site inspection to take place.

When you are ready to start work, you or your builder will need to arrange an initial site inspection and further inspections at various stages throughout the project. At these inspections our building control surveyor will check that the works complies with building regulations and with your approved plans (for a full plans application).

When all stages of the works have been inspected and have met the regulations, a completion certificate will be issued.

Approvals are valid for three years from the date of application. However, once work starts, they are valid indefinitely.

If you have already started work or you or a previous owner carried out work without obtaining permission, you may be able to have this approved retrospectively. This is called a regularisation. This can only be done for work carried out on or after the 11 November 1985. Visit our Building control guidance page for more information. 

A party wall is a wall on the boundary between two or more properties that separates the two, typically between terraced houses or semi-detached homes. There are also party structures that can refer to floors between properties such as flats. The Party Wall Act provides a framework for preventing or resolving disputes in relation to party walls, party structures, boundary walls and excavations near neighbouring buildings.

This Act is separate from planning permission or building regulations and building control has no involvement. If your building work is covered under the Party Wall Act, it is your responsibility to give adjoining owners notice of your plans.  If they disagree with your plans, the Act provides a way to resolve disputes.

Competent person schemes allow suitably qualified individuals and enterprises to self-certify that their work complies with the building regulations without having to submit a building notice.  The types of work covered by this scheme include:

• domestic electrical work
• replacement domestic windows, doors, roof windows or roof lights
• plumbing and water supply systems installations, including bathrooms and sanitary ware
• replacement of roof coverings on pitched and flat roofs (not including solar panels)
• cavity wall insulation installation
• solid wall insulation installation
• fixed air conditioning or mechanical ventilation systems installation
• microgeneration or renewable technologies installation

If you are using an installer registered with a competent person scheme, there are two things they need to do:

• notify us of the work they are carrying out
• issue you with a certificate of compliance under the building regulations, either directly or through their scheme operator 

You will need building regulations approval to install a domestic solid fuel, wood or biomass stove in either an existing chimney or with a new flue. You can either do this using an installer registered with a Competent Person Scheme who can self-certify the work, or you can complete a building notice at least 48 hours before work starts.

You will need building regulations approval to install a boiler. You can either do this using an installer registered with a Competent Person Scheme who can self-certify the work, or you can complete a building notice at least 48 hours before work starts.

You don't need building control approval as garden walls are not controlled by the building regulations. The only exception might be if the wall is close to your property's foundations, in which case please contact us for advice. You may need planning permission though, so do check with our planning department.