Building standards

We create the building standards regulations and technical guidance, to ensure buildings are safe, efficient and sustainable.

Local authorities are responsible for granting permission for work to be done (building warrant) and for a completed building to be occupied (completion certificate).

If you are looking for advice on a specific building project, please contact your local authority, who administer and enforce the Scottish building standards system.

We have created the Customer Journey which explains the building standards system to anyone making home improvements or starting building work.

Online submission of applications and other related forms to local authorities can be made on the eBuildingStandards.Scot website.

The Building Standards Futures Board, set up at the beginning of 2019, will strategically advise and direct a broad programme of work aimed at improving the performance, expertise, resilience and sustainability of the Scottish building standards framework and services across Scotland.

Follow the Building Standards blog and twitter to stay informed on the work of Building Standards.

The 2019 technical handbooks apply to a building warrant submitted on or after 1 October 2019 and to building work which does not require a warrant commenced from that date.

The new 2020 technical handbooks apply to a building warrant submitted on or after 1 March 2020 and to building work which does not require a warrant commenced from that date.

The Procedural Handbook (new version) provides clarification on the procedures underpinning the Scottish building standards system as set out in the Building (Procedures) (Scotland) Regulations 2004 and the Building (Scotland) Act 2003 to assist with practical operation.

Actions

We are:

• monitoring and improving building regulations by publishing legislation, domestic and non-domestic technical handbooks and supporting guidance
• overseeing the building approval process including the certification handbook and the certification register
• ensuring compliance with energy performance regulations
• implementing European requirements for building standards
• monitoring the performance of verifiers
• improving the building stock
• defining our workforce strategy

Important documents and related websites:

• Building Standards Customer Journey
• Technical Handbook 2020 - Domestic and Non-Domestic (in force from 1 March 2021)
• Technical Handbooks for use before 1 March 2021
• Library of Technical Guidance
• Building standards verification service workforce strategy
• Procedural Handbook 3rd Edition Version 1.6
• Building Standards model forms
• Certification register
• Certification handbook
• Scottish Energy Performance Certifice (EPC) register
• Sustainability label generator
• eBuildingStandards.scot web portal
• List of Scottish Building Standards legislation

Background

The Building (Scotland) Act 2003 came into force in 2005. The Act focuses on the health and safety of buildings, the conservation of fuel and power within buildings and sustainable development.

Bills and legislation

The Building (Scotland) Act 2003 is the primary legislation under which Scotland's building standards system operates.

One of its functions is to give ministers power to make secondary legislation to support the Act. You can find this on the UK legislation website.

We create legislation for dangerous and defective buildings, and for the energy performance of non-domestic buildings to improve the existing building stock, under section 63 of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009.

We have provided a list of Scottish building standards legislation. 

Contact

Email: buildingstandards@gov.scot
Twitter: @ScotGovBLdgStds

Telephone: 0300 244 4000

Post:
Scottish Government
Building Standards Division
Almondvale Business Park
Denholm House
Livingston
West Lothian
EH54 6GA