http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1984/55/section/5Building Act 1984 An Act to consolidate certain enactments concerning building and buildings and related matters.1984-10-31texttext/xmlenStatute Law Database2026-03-06Expert Participation2026-01-27 Part I Building Regulations Exemption from building regulations Exemption of public bodies from procedural requirements of building regulations.51Building regulations may exempt—aa local authority,ba county council, orcany other body that acts under an enactment for public purposes and not for its own profit and is prescribed for the purposes of this section,from compliance with any requirements of those regulations that are not substantive requirements.2A local authority, county council or other body that is exempted as mentioned in subsection (1) above is in subsection (3) below referred to as an “exempt body”.3Without prejudice to the obligation of an exempt body to comply with substantive requirements of building regulations, the function of enforcing building regulations that is conferred on local authorities by section 91(2) below is not exercisable in relation to work carried out by an exempt body, and accordingly—anothing in section 36(1) to (5) below applies in relation to work so carried out, andba local authority may not institute proceedings under section 35 below for a contravention ... by an exempt body.3AIn relation to higher-risk building work in England—aexemptions under subsection (1) have no effect (and accordingly bodies must comply with requirements applicable to such work, whether substantive or not), andbsubsection (3) has no effect (and accordingly the provisions mentioned in that subsection are not disapplied or otherwise affected by it in relation to such work). 4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pt. 1 (ss. 1-46) restricted by Channel Tunnel Act 1987 (c. 53, SIF 102), ss. 31(1), 45, Sch. 7 Pt. VI para. 2Pt. 1 (ss. 1-46) modified (1.4.1991) by National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 (c. 19, SIF 113:2), s. 60(2), Sch. 8 para. 18(1)Pt. 1 (ss. 1-46) modified (17.7.1992) by S.I. 1992/1732, art. 4(1)Pt. 1 (ss. 1-46) excluded (18. 12. 1996) by 1996 c. 61, s. 38, Sch. 10 para.7PPt. I (ss. 1-46) excluded (26.3.2001) by S.I. 2001/1149, art. 4(5) (subject to art. 1(3))Pt. 1 (ss. 1-46) excluded (22.7.2008) by Crossrail Act 2008 (c. 18), Sch. 14 para. 8Words in s. 5(3)(b) omitted (1.10.2023 except in relation to W., 6.4.2024 for W.) by virtue of Building Safety Act 2022 (c. 30), s. 170(4)(b)(c), Sch. 5 para. 7; S.I. 2023/993, reg. 2(n)(iii); S.I. 2024/207, reg. 2(d)(xi), Sch. (with regs. 3, 4, 8-12)Pt. 1 (ss. 1-46) excluded (23.2.2017) by High Speed Rail (London - West Midlands) Act 2017 (c. 7), s. 70(1), Sch. 22 para. 1Pt. 1 excluded (11.2.2021) by High Speed Rail (West Midlands - Crewe) Act 2021 (c. 2), s. 64(1), Sch. 22 para. 1(1)(a) (with Sch. 22 para. 1(2)(3))S. 5(4) omitted (1.10.2023 except in relation to W., 6.4.2024 for W.) by virtue of Building Safety Act 2022 (c. 30), s. 170(4)(b)(c), Sch. 5 para. 8; S.I. 2023/993, reg. 2(n)(iii); S.I. 2024/207, reg. 2(d)(xi), Sch. (with regs. 3, 4, 8-12)Pt. 1 (ss. 1-46) excluded (24.9.2014) by The Thames Water Utilities Limited (Thames Tideway Tunnel) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/2384), art. 1, Sch. 19 Pt. 1 para. 3S. 5(3A) inserted (1.10.2023) by The Building (Public Bodies and Higher-Risk Building Work) (England) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/504), regs. 1(2), 2; S.I. 2023/993, reg. 2(f) (with reg. 4)Pt. 1 excluded (4.10.2024) by The National Grid (Bramford to Twinstead Reinforcement) Order 2024 (S.I. 2024/958), art. 1, Sch. 15 para. 4 (with art. 40, Sch. 14)