Any building work you do must follow building regulations.
These are rules to make sure all building work is:
For detailed guidance on building regulations, download building standards technical handbooks on gov.scot.
A building warrant is legal permission to carry out building work. If you need a warrant and start building work without one, you could be fined.
To get a building warrant, the work you plan on doing must meet building regulations.
There are certain types of building work that do not need a warrant. However, these must also follow building regulations.
You can appoint an agent to act on your behalf to make sure your plans meet building regulations. This could be an architect, a building engineer or a building surveyor.
If you appoint an agent, they’ll apply for a building warrant for you.
Approved certifiers are Scottish Government scheme providers.
They certify that their work meets your local council's building standards. This can help you meet building regulations and get a building warrant.
A surveyor from the council's building standards department will inspect the work.
They’re there to make sure the building work meets:
They will not check the quality of the build. That’s up to you and your agent, architect or designer.
Discuss this with your agent, architect or designer and your local building standards department.
They'll tell you how to apply for an amendment to your warrant. If you appoint an agent, they’ll apply on your behalf.
Submit a completion certificate to your local council. If you've used an approved certifier of construction, also include their certificate.
The building standards department checks that the work meets:
They’ll accept or reject the certificate within 14 days.
You must have an accepted completion certificate before you can move into or use the building.
The building standards department will tell you why and explain how you can appeal.