Building Warrants

What is a building warrant?

A Building Warrant is the legal permission needed to commence building works.  For further information please see Customer Journey document under related links.

In assessing your application for a Building Warrant we will apply the standards set by the Building (Scotland) Act 2003.  The Building Regulations set down are the minimum requirements that must be observed by anyone planning to construct, alter or change the use of a building.

Building Standards and Public Safety is charged with ensuring the requirements of the Building Regulations are met.

The Building Standards Division of the Scottish Government has published a guide on Making a Quality Building Warrant Application which can be accessed under Related Links. It provides procedural and technical checklists and promotes using competent professionals to help produce a quality application as they have the knowledge and understanding of the system, process and regulations.

How to apply?

Scotland's eBuilding Standards online applications service was launched on the 24 August 2016.

This enables the electronic submission of applications for building warrants and other related forms, such as completion certificates. It also enables multiple site users to collaborate in producing any single application online.

Online applications are simple, save applicants' time and money and will be delivered to us swiftly, enabling us to start considering applications sooner.

eBuildingstandards.scot can be accessed through the eDevelopment.scot home page - a new single landing page leading to both the eBuilding Standards service and also to the ePlanning service.

There is a single eDevelopment.scot login process, so if you are already registered on ePlanning.scot, you will be able to use the same login details for eBuildingstandards.scot.

It is recommended that you engage the services of a suitably qualified person to deal with all aspects of the application and building works.

How long does it take to process the application?

We aim to respond to applications within 20 days of submission; the time taken to assess an application is dependent upon the complexity of the project and the quality of submitted information.  If further information is required you will be advised in writing of the matters requiring clarification.

When compliance with the Building Regulations has been met a Building Warrant, valid for 3 years, will be issued. The validity period can be extended in certain circumstances.

If construction or refurbishment work is being carried out, you may need to notify the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and you may have other duties as well. Further information can be found at www.hse.gov.uk

Staged building warrant applications

Where all the information required for Building Warrant approval is not available at the time of application, which may be the case in larger projects, it is possible to apply for a Staged Building Warrant through eBuilding Standards.. If it is your intention to stage the Warrant application please contact us prior to submission and we will advise what plans, drawings, specifications etc., should accompany each stage of the application.

The initial stage should be applied for using the Building Warrant Application form, listing all subsequent stages, along with the fee for the entire project unless otherwise agreed.

Subsequent stages are applied for using the Amendment of Building Warrant Application form and there is an administration fee of £100 for each subsequent 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.

The Certificate of Completion will not be accepted until all stages are approved and the project is complete on site.

Amendment to a building warrant

Once a Building Warrant has been approved there may be a variety of reasons why it is not possible to complete the project in accordance with the approved plans. Should this situation arise you should submit an application to amend the Building Warrant through eBuilding Standards.

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

Extension to period of a building warrant

A Building Warrant is valid for three years from the date of approval and all works included in the Warrant should be completed and a Certificate of Completion submitted to us prior to the expiry date. If you do not envisage the project being completed within this period you may apply for an Extension to the Period of the Building Warrant through eBuilding Standards.

The request must detail the reasons for the extension. The request for extension will be considered and a response issued. Each application is assessed on its own merits and an application may not be approved.