Building warrants, forms and regulations

You might need a 'letter of comfort' from us when:

• there has been unauthorised building work
• a building warrant has expired
• a building warrant is not required

How to apply

See our information on how to apply

How much will it cost?

The fee must be paid when applying. Ensure you have calculated the correct fee and your payment details are ready.

1. Unauthorised building work

If the value of works is £7,000 or less then the cost will be £281.14. If it will be more than £7,000 the fee is based on the table of fees for building warrant applications.

2. Expired building warrant

Cost £281.14.

3. Building warrant not required

The fee will be based on the value of works and in line with the table of fees for building warrant applications.

1. Unauthorised building work before 1 May 2005

You can request a letter of comfort if work was completed without consent. This form only relates to work completed prior to 1 May 2005, evidence of this must be provided.

Depending on the nature and scale of the work, we can insist that you send us a building warrant application. We aim to inspect the work within ten working days. If anything needs done we will let you know. A letter of comfort would be sent after a satisfactory inspection.

If the value of works is £7,000 or less then the cost will be £281.14. If it will be more than £7,000 the fee is based on the table of fees for building warrant applications.

Please use our form to request an inspection of building works without statutory consent.

Unauthorised building work after 1 May 2005

If building work started after 1 May 2005 and you don't have building warrant approval you will need to apply for a late submission of a building warrant online via eBuildingStandards Scotland.

If works have been completed and you don't have building warrant approval you will need to apply for a late submission of a completion certificate online via eBuildingStandards Scotland.

You will need to send relevant plans and specifications with this. The works which have been completed may have to be exposed and will require to meet the standards that apply at the time of the submission. A 300% surcharge is applicable to this type of application.

2. Expired building warrant before 1 May 2005

Where a building warrant has expired before 1 May 2005 and a certificate of completion has not been issued you can apply for a letter of comfort. The work will be inspected. If the work has been carried out in accordance with the building warrant and approved plans, we will send you a letter of comfort. The cost for this will be £281.14.

Please use our form to request an inspection of work where the warrant has expired and no certificate of completion has been issued.

3. Building warrant not required

You can apply to ask us to confirm whether proposed work complies with the building regulations. These fall into the category of work not requiring building warrant approval. (See Regulation 5, Schedule 3 of the Building Regulations 2004). If the proposal does comply in all respects and does not require approval, we will send you a Confirmation of exemption. The fee will be based on the value of works.

Please use our form to request confirmation that proposed works do not require building warrant approval.

For more information contact our Planning and Building Standards office.