Application forms for the 1959 Act  or 2003 Act are available under the appropriate headings.

All Guidance Notes are for the 2003 Act 

How to apply for a Building Warrant, staged warrant, relaxation, amendment, or extension 

Building Warrant applications

The purpose of Building Regulations is to set down minimum requirements that must be observed by anyone planning to construct, alter or change the use of a building.  The ways in which these regulations may be satisfied are set down in the Technical Standards. The Building Control & Public Safety Service is charged with the responsibility of ensuring that the requirements of the Building Regulations and the Technical Standards are met.

An application form (Form A), together with the appropriate fee and detailed plans should be lodged with the Service. One paper set may be lodged until the final submission is agreed. It is recommended that you engage the services of a suitably qualified person to deal with all aspects of the application and building works.

The time taken to assess an application is dependant upon the complexity of the project and quality of submitted information, but the Service aims to respond to 80% of applications within 20 days of submission. If further information is required you will be advised in writing and given a Building Warrant reference number, the name and telephone number of the surveyor dealing with your application, and a list of the matters requiring clarification.

When compliance with the Technical Standards has been met, a Building Warrant will be issued which is valid for 3 years. This period can be extended in certain circumstances.

Staged Building Warrant applications

Where all the information required for Building Warrant approval is not available at the time of application, which is often the case in larger projects, it is possible to apply for a Building Warrant in stages.  The initial stage should be applied for on the Building Warrant Application form, which must list all subsequent stages.  The fee for the entire project should be submitted at this time, unless otherwise agreed with the Service.

All subsequent stages must be applied for on an Amendment of Building Warrant application form, Form B. There is an administration fee of £50 for each stage or, the appropriate fee if the entire fee was not paid at the initial application. Approval of each stage of the Building Warrant will permit the work included in that stage to commence on site.  A Certificate of Completion will not be accepted/issued until all stages are approved and the project is completed on site.

If it is your intention to stage the warrant approval process, please contact the Service prior to submission. The Service can advise you on what plans, drawings, specifications and other particulars should accompany each stage of your application.

Relaxations (1959 Act only)

If it is not possible to comply fully with any provision of the Building Standards Regulations you may apply to the Service to relax or dispense with part of the regulations.  Where, on application it appears to the Service that it is unreasonable that any provision of the building standards regulations should apply to any particular building we may give a direction relaxing that provision in relation to that building. 

If the Service refuses to dispense with or relax the regulations, or applies conditions to a relaxation that you find unacceptable you may appeal to the Scottish Ministers against our decision.  You must appeal within 28 days from the Service’s decision date. You may also appeal to the Scottish Ministers if the Service does not give a decision within 2 months of your making the application.

The Service can advise you on what plans, drawings, specifications and other particulars should accompany your application.

Amendments to Building Warrants

Once a Building Warrant has been approved, there may be a variety of reasons why it is not possible to complete the project exactly as the approved plans.  Should this situation arise you must make an application to the Service on the Amendment of Building Warrant form. The amendment will be processed in the same way as the initial application, with requests for further information possible.

The Service can advise you on what plans, drawings, specifications and other particulars should accompany your application.

Work included in the amendment application should not be carried out on site until the amendment has been approved.

Extensions to period of Building Warrants

A Building Warrant is valid for thee years from the date of approval.  All works included in the warrant should be completed and an application/submission for a Certificate of Completion submitted to the local authority prior to expiry.  If you do not envisage that the project will be completed within this period, you may apply to the local authority for an Extension to the Period of the Building Warrant.

An extension must be applied for before the building warrant expires. The request must be submitted on the approved form, detailing the reasons for the extension. The request for extension will be considered by the Service, and a written response will be issued.
Each application is assessed on its own merits and approval is not always granted.