Guidance on Exemptions from Building Regulations
Certain buildings and works are exempt from the requirements of
the Building Regulations, subject to certain conditions. In the
following instances an application will not be required.
Buildings controlled under other legislation
1. Any building the construction of which is
subject to the Explosives Acts 1875 and 1923(a).
2. Any building (other than a building
containing a dwelling or a building used for office of canteen
accommodation) erected on a site in respect of which a license
under the Nuclear Installations Act 1965 (b) for the time being in
force.
3. A building included in the schedule of
monuments maintained under section 1 of the Ancient Monuments and
Archaeological Areas Act 1979 (c).
Buildings not frequented by people
A detached building:
1. into which people do not normally go; or
2. Into which people go only intermittently and
then only for the purpose of inspecting or maintaining fixed plant
or machinery.
Unless any point of such a building is less than one and a half
times its height from:
i. any point of a building into which people can or do normally
go; or
ii. the nearest point of the boundary of the curtilage of that
building, whichever is the nearer.
Greenhouses and agricultural buildings
1. subject to paragraph 3, a greenhouse.
2. A building used, subject to paragraph 3, for
agriculture, or a building principally for the keeping of animals,
provided in each case that:
i. no part of the building is used as a dwelling.
ii. no point of the building is less than one and a half times
its height from any point of a building which contains sleeping
accommodation; and
iii. the building is provided with a fire exit which is not more
than 30 metres from any point in the building.
3. The descriptions of building in paragraphs 1
and 2 do not include a greenhouse or a building used for
agriculture if the principal purpose for which they are used is
retailing, packing or exhibiting.
4. In paragraph 2, "agriculture" includes
horticulture, fruit growing, the growing of plants for seed and
fish farming.
Temporary buildings
A building which is not intended to remain where erected for
more than 28 days.
Ancillary buildings
1. A building on a site, being a building which
is intended to be used only in connection with the disposal of
buildings or building plots on that site.
2. A building on the site of construction or
civil engineering works, which is intended to be used only during
the course of those works and contains no sleeping
accommodation.
3. A building, other than a building containing
a dwelling or used as an office or showroom, erected for use on the
site of and in connection with a mine or quarry.
Small detached Buildings
1. A detached single storey building, having a
floor area which does not exceed 30m2, which contains no
sleeping accommodation and is a building, which is constructed
substantially of non-combustible material.
2. A detached building designed and intended to
shelter people from the effects of nuclear, chemical or
conventional weapons, and not used for any other purpose, if:
its floor area does not exceed 30m2 and
the excavation for the building is not closer to any exposed
part of another building or structure than a distance equal to the
depth of the excavation plus one metre.
3. A detached building, have a floor area which
does not exceed 15m2, which contains no sleeping
accommodation.
Extensions
The extension of a building by the addition at ground level
of:
1. a conservatory or porch, providing there is
a door is between the main dwelling and the new structure.
2. a covered yard or covered way; or
3. a carport open on at least two sides;
Where the floor area of that extension does not exceed
30m2 and provided that in the case of a conservatory or
porch which is wholly or partly glazed, the glazing satisfies the
requirements of Part N.
Note: You must ensure that the requirements of
Part P (Electrical Safety in Dwellings) is not applicable, if in
doubt contact your local Building Control Consultancy office.