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Building Notice: A 2026 Guide to the Simpler Building Regulations Application Route

Bhavesh Ramburn

What is a Building Notice?

A Building Notice is one of the two application routes under the Building Regulations 2010 (the substantive regulations, made under the Building Act 1984). It is a simpler, less-detailed alternative to a Full Plans application for certain categories of building work, designed for smaller projects where the detailed plans check is not proportionate.

The Building Notice route is administered by the local authority’s Building Control team. It is not the same as:

  • A planning application (which is a separate, parallel process under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990).
  • An Initial Notice (which is the Approved Inspector’s formal notification to the local authority of taking over a project — see our Building Control Initial Notice guide).
  • An Enforcement Notice (which is a regulatory notice issued by the local authority for non-compliant work).

For the broader context on building control and the Full Plans alternative, see our Building Control in the UK guide and our Building Control Application guide.

When you can use a Building Notice (and when you cannot)

A Building Notice can be used for most categories of building work, with a few important exceptions.

You can use a Building Notice for:

  • Most householder extensions and alterations (single-storey rear extensions, side extensions, loft conversions, garage conversions, internal alterations).
  • Most small commercial works that do not require full plans approval.
  • Replacement windows and doors in most cases.
  • Electrical work in a dwelling where the installer is registered with a Competent Person Scheme (e.g. NICEIC, NAPIT) — the work is self-certified without a Building Notice.
  • Boiler and heating work where the installer is registered with a Competent Person Scheme (e.g. Gas Safe Register, OFTEC, HETAS) — the work is self-certified.

You cannot use a Building Notice for:

  • Work to a building that is subject to a Building Regulations prohibition notice.
  • Work to which the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies (most commercial premises where people are employed, or non-domestic premises the public use).
  • New dwellings in some circumstances — although the Building Notice route is technically available for new dwellings, in practice most Building Control bodies will only accept a Full Plans application for new dwellings to ensure the design is checked.

For the broader scope of when Building Regulations approval is needed, see the GOV.UK when you need approval page.

What the Building Notice must contain

The Building Notice is a prescribed form under regulation 14 of the Building Regulations 2010. The required content is much simpler than a Full Plans application:

  • The name and address of the person carrying out the work.
  • The name and address of the owner of the building (if different).
  • The address or location of the project.
  • A description of the proposed work.
  • The intended use of the building (if changed).
  • A declaration that the work will not contravene any existing planning permission or condition.
  • The local authority’s standard form fields for contact and payment.

Unlike a Full Plans application, the Building Notice does not require submission of detailed construction drawings. However, a location plan and a block plan are still required, and the Building Control body can require the submission of additional information at any time during the work.

The 48-hour rule

Once the Building Notice is submitted, the work can start at least 48 hours later (excluding weekends and bank holidays). This is the so-called “48-hour rule” — it gives the Building Control body time to assess the notice and (if needed) to require additional information before work begins.

Starting work before the 48 hours have elapsed is a breach of the Building Act 1984 and can be subject to enforcement action, including a stop notice and a requirement to remove and rebuild the work at the owner’s expense.

The Building Control body is not required to acknowledge the Building Notice in writing. The notice takes effect when the 48 hours have elapsed (or earlier if the Building Control body has acknowledged it).

Inspections under a Building Notice

Because a Building Notice does not include a plans check, the Building Control body relies more heavily on site inspections to verify compliance. The inspection stages under a Building Notice are similar to those under a Full Plans application, but the Building Control body may add extra inspection stages to compensate for the absence of a plans check.

For most small projects, the Building Control body will visit 2–3 times during construction. For larger or more complex projects, the Building Control body may visit 5–6 times. The Building Control inspector will issue a list of required stages when the Building Notice is acknowledged.

For more detail on the inspection stages, see our Building Control Application guide.

Building Notice fees

Building Notice fees are typically lower than Full Plans fees because the Building Control body is not doing a full plans check. As an indicative guide for 2026:

  • Extension (small, single-storey): from around £250 for a Building Notice + inspections.
  • Extension (large, multi-storey): £400–£800.
  • Loft conversion: £300–£500.
  • Garage conversion: £200–£400.

The fees are set locally by each Building Control body under the Building (Local Authority Charges) Regulations 2010 (or its successor). The local authority’s fee schedule will be on the council’s website.

For a worked example of an LPA-specific fee schedule, see our Bradford building control guide.

Building Notice vs Full Plans: which to choose

The choice between a Building Notice and a Full Plans application depends on the complexity of the project and your appetite for certainty vs speed:

Aspect Building Notice Full Plans application
Plans check None — relied on inspections Yes — design checked in advance
When you can start At least 48 hours after submission After plans check approval (typically 5 weeks)
Fee Generally lower Generally higher
Certainty Lower — design isn’t checked Higher — design is approved before build
Best for Small, well-understood works New builds, major work, complex designs

For most householder extensions and alterations, the Building Notice route is faster and cheaper. For new builds, major commercial work, or anything where the design relies on unusual technical solutions, the Full Plans route is the safer option.

For the planning-permission side of the same project, see our householder planning permission guide. For a specific example of work that requires a different route, see our boiler installation certificate guide, which describes how Competent Person Scheme work is handled outside the Building Notice process.

Next steps and resources

Editorial note. This article is for guidance only and does not constitute regulated advice. Building Notice and Full Plans applications are alternative routes under the same regime; the choice between them depends on project complexity. For project-specific questions, consult a Building Control inspector or a chartered surveyor registered with RICS.