• Preparing plans
• Fees
• Starting work and inspections
• When you receive your Building Warrant
• Drains
• Completion Certificates
• Duration of Building Warrant
• Confirmation of Completion

See also:

• Work which may not require a Building Warrant
• Work which does not require a Building Warrant
• Unauthorised Building Work

Preparing Plans

Clear and detailed plans showing the proposed building work should be prepared. In most cases an architect or design consultant should be appointed to prepare the plans and to supervise the work to ensure the standard of workmanship is satisfactory.

Three copies of the plan, the required fee and completed application form (available from Building Control) should be sent or handed in to the Councils Building Control Section.

Building Control, 329 High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1PN Office hours, Mon-Thurs 8.30 - 5.00, Fri 8.30 - 3.45.

A Building Control Surveyor will check that the work shown on your plans meets the Building Regulations.

You or your architect or designer will be notified of any changes that need to be made. Your plans will be checked again after the changes have been made.

A Building Warrant will be granted when your plans show that the work you want to do meets the Regulations.

A fee based on the estimated cost of the building work must be paid to the City of Edinburgh Council.

Check with Building Control for detailed information about fees payable.

Fees should be paid by cheque or bankers order payable to 'City of Edinburgh Council' and enclosed with your completed application form.

You must notify Building Control on the forms provided:
- when your plans were approved
- when you want to start work
- when you are ready to cover any drains

Building Control Surveyors may inspect the work while building is in progress. You will be told if there are any problems with the work being done and you or your builder will be expected to put them right.

When you receive your Building Warrant you will be sent the following documents:

A Building Warrant document and a copy of the approved plans and forms to send to the Property Services Department when: 
- you want to start work
- you want to cover drains
- a form for your electrician to complete (if any electrical work is being done)
- a form to apply for a Completion Cerficiate when the work is being finished

New drains below the ground must be inspected and tested by Building Control before they are covered.

Let the Department know on the form sent to you with the approved plans when your drains are ready to be covered and they will arrange for them to be inspected and tested.

Your drains should not be covered until they pass the inspection and test.

When the work is finished you should complete the application form for a Completion Certificate which was sent to you with the Building Warrant and the approved plans and sent it to Building Control.

The Department will arrange for an inspection to be made within 14 days of receiving the application form and you will be notified if anything needs to be changed. Once any changes to the work have been made, a Building Control Surveyor will inspect the work again and if the works are satisfactory you will be sent a Certificate of Completion. A Completion Certificate must be issued before any part of the building is used.

The Building Warrant document, copies of the approved plans and the Completion Certificate should be kept in a safe place with the Title Deeds to your property.

A Building Warrant lasts for three (3) years after it has been granted.

If you need more time to complete the work you must apply by letter for an extension of the Building Warrant, to Building Control, 329 High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1PN, before the warrant has expired, enclosing a cheque or bankers order for £30 made out to the 'City of Edinburgh Council'.

If your warrant has expired or if an extension to your warrant has been refused you may want the Council to tell you if the work is completed satisfactorily.

To apply for a Confirmation of Completion complete the form (available from Building Control, 329 High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1PN) and enclose a cheque or bankers order for £130 made out to 'City of Edinburgh Council'. The Department will contact you to arrange an inspection of the work within seven (7) days. Once the work has been inspected you will be notified if any work needs to be changed.

Once any changes to the work has been made a Building Control Surveyor will inspect the work again, and if the works are satisfactory you will be sent a letter confirming that the Department is satisfied with the work.