What do you actually need permission for?
Notifiable and non-notifiable electrical work, how far you can extend without planning permission, what changes in a conservation area or on a listed building, and the notices and permits people forget. Written in plain English for homeowners and builders.
Quick answers — do I need permission?
The jobs people ask about most. Full detail in the sections below.
Adding a socket to an existing circuit
Not notifiable — unless it is in a bathroom or shower room.
New fuse board
Notifiable. Part P certificate required.
EV charger
Notifiable, plus DNO notification. Registered electrician only.
3m single-storey rear extension on a semi
Usually permitted development. Building Regulations still apply.
6m rear extension on a semi
Prior Approval — neighbour consultation scheme application to the council.
Two-storey side extension
Full planning permission needed.
Loft conversion with rear dormer
Usually permitted development. Full Building Regulations apply.
Rendering the front of a house in a conservation area
Planning permission needed.
Replacing windows in a listed building
Listed Building Consent needed.
Cutting down a tree in a conservation area
Six weeks written notice to the council.
Digging foundations 1m from the neighbour’s wall
Party Wall notice needed.
New patio or driveway
Permitted if permeable or drained to a soakaway — otherwise planning permission for over 5 square metres of hard surfacing at the front.
Notifiable — needs certification or a building control application
- New circuits of any kind (new ring, radial, cooker circuit, shower circuit, EV charger circuit).
- Replacing or upgrading a consumer unit / fuse board.
- Any electrical work inside a special location — the space around a bath or shower.
- Rewires, part rewires and new supplies to outbuildings, garages, garden rooms and annexes.
- New installations in a new build, extension or converted loft/garage.
Non-notifiable — still must meet BS 7671, but no notification
- Replacing an existing socket, switch, light fitting or ceiling rose on a like-for-like basis.
- Replacing a damaged cable on a single circuit, like for like.
- Adding a socket or lighting point to an existing circuit — outside a special location.
- Repairs and maintenance to existing circuits.
What the customer should receive
- Notifiable work: an Electrical Installation Certificate plus a Building Regulations Compliance Certificate from the scheme provider (NICEIC, NAPIT, ELECSA, Stroma etc.).
- Smaller notifiable additions: a Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate where appropriate.
- Keep these — they are asked for when you sell or remortgage the property.
If the electrician is not registered with a Part P competent person scheme, notifiable work must be applied for through building control before it starts, and they will charge to inspect it. Never let notifiable work go uncertified.
Check the official source
Rules change and councils apply local restrictions. This guide covers England only — Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland differ. Always confirm before work starts.
Need someone who knows the process?
General guidance only, correct for England at the time of writing. It is not planning or legal advice — confirm with your local council and building control before starting work.