Emily Rivers
Patios can create beautiful outdoor spaces for dining or leisure. You can usually add a patio to your garden without building regulations approval, but there are some regulations which may apply to patios. You should be sure that any work you have done meets any relevant building regulations.
The areas where building regulations may apply are around drainage, access, external electrical appliances, and raised patios. Read on to find out more about building regulations and each specific area where they may apply to patios.
What are building regulations?
Building regulations are standards set by the government that building work has to meet. These standards make sure that building work is done safely and in a way that does not affect pre-existing buildings. They also set out environmental standards for buildings.
You may have to alter or remove any building work that does not meet the building regulations standards. This can be very expensive.
Drainage requirements
Most patios will not have any effect on the drainage of the building. However, if your patio is directly next to the building, make sure that the design takes drainage needs into account. A patio that drains rainwater towards the building may affect the foundations and could cause serious structural damage.
Building regulations set a standard for the height of the building’s damp proof course. Patios can sometimes affect this height as they raise the height of the ground next to the wall. You should not install a patio that would lower the height of the damp proof course below the correct value for the building. Doing this could lead to damp in the walls of your property.
Access
Building regulations mean that any construction work must not make access to the property worse than it was before. This means that you cannot add steps to the main access to a property. Any patio that you install must improve access to the building or keep it the same as it was before, meaning you may need to install a ramp or some other form of access.
External electrical work
Also, garden lighting or power installations are a ‘special location’ under building regulations. This means that a qualified electrician must carry out any work and it must meet building regulations for electrical work. If you use an electrician who is not registered under a competent persons scheme, you may need to have an inspection by the local authority.
Raised patios
If your patio is above 600mm it will need to have some kind of guard rail installed to prevent people falling from them. Many kinds of railings are acceptable under the building regulations. However, if you’re not sure if your patio needs a railing, speak to a specialist patio fitting company who will be able to advise you.
Other kinds of regulation may apply if your property is listed or in a conservation area. Your local authority’s website may have more information about how building regulations work in your area. If you’re not sure who your local authority is, use the government’s tool here to find their website.
