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Building Regulations Legislation

The new Building Regulations came into operation on 31st October 2012. These Regulations revoke and replace, with amendments, the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000 and all subsequent amending Regulations ("the 2000 Regulations"). They impose certain functional or performance requirements in relation to -

  • the construction of any building and to certain services and fittings in conjunction with any building;
  • the structural alteration or extension of any building; and
  • any building undergoing a material change of use.

These Regulations came into operation on 31st October 2012, but do not apply in relation to work which has been completed, or for which plans have been deposited with a district council, before that date.

(to view full version of Explanatory note please access the link below for the Building Regulations 2012)

To view the Regulations and Commencement Orders please use links below:-

The Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012

The Building (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012

The Building Regulations (2009 Amendment Act) (Commencement No 2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012

The Building Regulations (1979 Order) (Commencement No 3) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012

Building Regulations legislation falls into two distinct categories:

Primary Legislation

Primary legislation is the legislation that grants powers to the Department and imposes duties and responsibilities on the Department and other bodies.  The primary legislation for building regulations within Northern Ireland is the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) Order 1979 (as amended 1990 and 2009).

Subordinate Legislation

Subordinate (or “secondary”) legislation is the name given to regulations or orders written under powers granted by primary legislation.  Within Northern Ireland, these take the form of Statutory Rules.  There are two main Statutory Rules for building regulations in Northern Ireland: