Permits and licensing
Renovation permits and building control in the UK
Before you start work, two questions matter: does the job need consent, and is the person doing it registered for that kind of work? In the UK the answers depend on which nation you are in, because planning and building control are devolved. Pick your nation to see the official bodies involved.
Choose your nation
Each guide lists the official bodies, the work that is legally controlled, where consent comes from and what to check before you hire.
How permits and building control work in the UK
Planning permission and building control are separate
They answer different questions: planning is about what you build and how it is used, building control is about how it is built. GOV.UK states that building regulations approval is different from planning permission and that you might need both, so getting one does not settle the other.
Each nation has its own system
England and Wales work through building regulations approval, and Wales publishes its own Approved Documents. Scotland instead requires a building warrant before work starts, and it is an offence to begin without one when you need it. Northern Ireland has the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012, enforced by the 11 district councils.
Specific work is controlled, not the job title
Gas is the firm legal line right across the UK: HSE states a gas business must be on the Gas Safe Register to legally carry out gas work within the scope of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. In England, an installer registered with a competent person scheme can self-certify certain electrical, window and roofing work instead of going to building control.
Some buildings and boundaries need extra consent
Listed buildings are protected in their own right: altering or extending one in a way that affects its special interest without consent is an offence. Demolition in a conservation area needs planning permission. In England and Wales, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 means you must give neighbours notice before work on a party wall, the boundary or near their foundations.
Sources for our permit and licensing guides
Planning a renovation?
Describe your project once and hear from local pros. Ask each one for their licence and permit details before you hire.