A Handy Guide to Decking Building Regulations

If you’re planning on building some new decking in your garden, there are some rules that you need to know about before you get started. Some of these come under building regulations. It’s really important to follow these regulations – otherwise you might have to dismantle your decking in the future.

To make sure that you’re on top of all the rules you need to know, we’ve made a handy guide to decking building regulations.

What are building regulations?

Building regulations are a set of rules that apply to the majority of structures in the UK. They’re in place to make sure that all buildings are safe and accessible.

There are some types of work that you can do without getting building regulations approval. However, you need to make sure that you follow any relevant building regulations, as your work might get inspected at a later date.

There are also some kinds of work that you need to get approval for before you do them. You can do this by notifying your local authority.

What decking building regulations do I need to know about?

Generally speaking, you’ll only need to worry about decking building regulations if you’ve had to apply for planning permission. If you haven’t then they’re unlikely to be an issue.

The decking building regulations that you need to know about mainly cover safety. You need to make sure that your decking:

  • Is firmly fixed and stable
  • Has railings if it’s high up
  • Has steps of a safe height and pitch

You can find up-to-date building regulation guidelines here.

How do I make sure that my decking complies with building regulations?

The easiest way to make sure that your decking complies with building regulations is to get in touch with your local authority. You can find them through your local council’s website. They will let you know if your project requires approval.

If it does, then you’ve got 2 options. You can either:

  • Hire a professional to build your decking who is a registered competent person. They will communicate with your local authority as and when needed and make sure your decking complies with regulations; or
  • Hire a public or private Building Control Body (BCB) to check building regulations and apply for approval if necessary.

To find your local public BCB or to get further advice, visit your local council’s website. You can find their details here.