Make a Building Control application

Submit-a-Plan is the Local Authority Building Control National Portal for making electronic and offline Building Control applications.

It's free and easy to use
It makes form filling quicker
You can upload supporting documents easily

Apply online

Not sure if you need approval? See: Do I need building regulations approval?

For full details of charges, visit our Sussex Building Control fees and charges page

Apply by email

To apply to us by email, please complete the following steps:

Download the appropriate application form
Read the guidance notes for the application form
Read the building regulation charges for domestic extensions and alterations
Email the form to us at building.control@horsham.gov.uk

Related Files

What type of building regulations application do I need?

For domestic work there is a choice of building control application routes, Full Plans, Building Notice and Regularisation application for retrospective works. Read on further information...

Application for Building Control Approval with Full Plans

If you'd prefer to have your plans checked and approved before the work starts, to avoid any costly errors and corrective work on site by not being fully up to speed with the ever changing regulations, we recommend choosing Full Plans.

A building regulations application despotised under this procedure needs to contain plans and other information showing all construction details, preferably well in advance of when work is to start on site.

We will check your plans and consult any appropriate authorities.

If your plans comply with the building regulations, you will receive a notice stating that they have been approved. If we are not satisfied you may be asked to make amendments or provide more details. Alternatively, a conditional approval may be issued. This will either specify modifications which must be made to the plans; or will specify further plans which must be deposited to us.

If your plans are rejected the reasons will be stated in the notice. A full plans approval notice is valid for three years from the date of deposit of the plans.

Building Notice

If the work is uncomplicated and you are happy that you or your builder has a reasonably good understanding of the building regulations, then you can opt for a building notice. The advantage of the building notice procedure is that detailed drawings are not formally required for approval, although some details such as structural calculations may be required. You may start work 48 hours after your notice has been received.

Plans are not required with this process so it’s quicker and less detailed than the full plans application. It is designed to enable some types of building work to get under way quickly; although it is perhaps best suited to small or basic work.

There are also specific exclusions in the regulations as to when building notices cannot be used in relation to domestic work, a building notice cannot be used:

For work which will be built close to or over the top of rain water and foul drains shown on the 'map of sewers'
Where a new building will front onto a private street

A 'building notice' is valid for three years from the date the notice was given to the local authority, after which it will automatically lapse if the building work has not commenced.

Regularisation of unauthorised works

If the work has already recently started or possibly even been completed without proper consent, then we can receive it retrospectively - you will need to submit a Regularisation application. However, it's best to contact us to discuss your individual circumstances initially before proceeding with the application process.

You can even use this if the work was carried out by a former owner. Any work can potentially be regularised as long as it was carried out after the 11 November 1985.

The purpose of the process is to regularise the unauthorised works and obtain a certificate of regularisation. Depending on the circumstances, exposure, removal and/or rectification of works may be necessary to establish compliance with the building regulations.

Before a certificate of regularisation can be issued, we must be reasonably satisfied that the works comply with The Building Regulations. Also, that there is no risk to the health and safety of persons in or around the property.

Further guidance for homeowners

Find more information on the LABC's website Front Door.

Planning Approval

You are reminded that Building Regulations approval does not imply approval under the Town and Country Planning Act. You should always check whether a planning application is required.

Cancellation (Reversion) applications

Recently a number of Registered Building Control Approver's (RBCA's) (formerly known as Approved Inspectors) have entered liquidation and now unable to carry out their duties.

What happens next for applicants who had previously employed their services will depends on the stage of the project, but in the majority of cases the project will revert to the Local Authority in what's known as a Reversion.

The Government has published guidance to further explain the consequences of an RBCA falling into liquidation and we would encourage anyone affected by this to read and understand the guidance available. A more detailed guidance note is also available.

You are then encouraged to make contact with the Local Authority Building Control department to discuss the next steps to try and ensure that your project continues in the correct manner.

You should then email building.control@horsham.gov.uk with details of the project and any documentation you currently have from the previous RBCA.

Enforcement and Prosecution

Please see the Failure to comply with the building regulations page on the Planning Portal website.

Apply for a fee waiver due to Disability Declaration

You do not need to pay our fees if you are carrying out appropriate work for the benefit of a disabled person.

To request a Disability Declaration for your work, please download the application form and email to building.control@horsham.gov.uk together with your Building Control application form.

Eligibility Criteria

We are able to offer fee remission through grounds of disability where the whole of the building work in question is solely:

1) for the purpose of providing means of access for the disabled person by way of entrance or exit to or from the dwelling or any part of it, or

2) for the purpose of providing accommodation or facilities (either new or adapted) within the building which are incapable of being used (or used without assistance) by the disabled person.

Examples of work which may be exempt can include the provision of a room extension which is or will be used solely:

for the carrying out for the benefit of the disabled person of medical treatment which cannot reasonably be carried out in any other room in the dwelling, or
for the storage of medical equipment for the use of the disabled person, or
to provide necessary accommodation (bedroom) or facility (bathroom) that could not be used by the disabled person.
persons by way of entrance or exit to or from the building or any part of it; or for the provision of facilities designed to secure the greater health, safety and welfare of disabled persons
This also includes work to provide or extend a room which will be used for sleeping accommodation for a full time (i.e. 24 hours) carer.

Note: ‘disabled person’ means a person who is within any of the descriptions of persons to whom Section 29(1) of the National Assistance Act 1948, as extended by virtue of Section 8(2) of the Mental Health Act 1959, applied but disregarding the amendments made by paragraph 11 of Schedule 13 to the Children Act 1989. The words in section 8(2) of the Mental Health Act 1959 which extend the meaning of disabled person in section 29(1) of the National Assistance Act 1948, are prospectively repealed by the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990, section 66(2), Schedule 10, as from a day to be appointed

The fact that the work is “building work solely required for disabled persons” needs to be demonstrated. It must be clear that the work is being carried out for the purpose of facilitating a person’s disability, regardless of whether others may also benefit from the work.

In order to be reasonably satisfied Building Control will seek to be provided with one of the following proofs of disability:

a) a copy of a Disability Facilities Grant (DFG) form from the Local Authority

b) a copy of an Occupational Therapists (OT) report stating that the works proposed are required in order for the disabled person(s) to continue living within their existing dwelling.

c) that the works are solely for the use of the disabled person(s). In some circumstances partial fee remission may be given in the event that part of a project relates solely but another part does not.