Building control and regulations guidance

Building regulations

Information about the building regulations and further guidance you may find useful.

• The Building Regulations

Pre-submission consultation service

A pre-submission consultation can provide you with all the information needed to help you through the approval and building process. This free consultation:

• can reduce project costs
• avoid delays
• create awareness of building constraints
• is impartial and provides for flexible payment of fees and charges
• can include liaison with other council departments

Contact us to arrange a face to face meeting or phone call with a member of our team.

Additional building control functions

We are responsible for many functions, of which the principle one is ensuring the health and safety of people in and around buildings by the implementation of The Building Act 1984 and associated legislation.

• Dangerous structures
• Demolition notice and advice
• Health and Safety Executive (HSE): health and safety in the construction industry
• Sports ground safety certificates

Additional information sources and useful links

• Local Authority Building Control
• Submit a plan
• Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
• Planning Portal
• County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service
• Federation of Master Builders (FMB)
• Planning Portal: The Party Wall etc Act 1996
• Northumbrian Water
• English Heritage: Listed Buildings Register
• Electrical safety guidance
• Find a registered electrician

Our service standards

We have achieved the following accreditation and are committed to the delivery of a customer focused service:

• Building Control - ISO 9001 Quality Management System

We are committed to providing a quality service:

• Building Control Customer Charter 2017 (PDF, 57.0kb)
• Building Control Customer Service Standards

The Local Performance Indicators identify the performance standard of our Building Control Service.

Customer comments

• Plan Examination Questionnaire Results Jan 2015 - Dec 2015 (PDF, 14.7kb)
• Inspection Questionnaire Results Jan 2015 - Dec 2015 (PDF, 14.9kb)
• Plan Examination Questionnaire Results Jan 2016 - Apr 2016 (PDF, 14.7kb)
• Inspection Questionnaire Results Jan 2016 - Apr 2016 (PDF, 15.6kb)