The short answer
A new kitchen must meet Building Regulations even when it does not need planning permission — the main areas are electrical safety (Part P), gas safety, ventilation, drainage and any structural work. New electrical circuits are notifiable and must be certified; gas work must be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer; the room needs adequate ventilation; and removing a load-bearing wall needs building control sign-off. A registered electrician or installer can usually self-certify their work. Always use registered tradespeople.
Building Regulations are about safety, not aesthetics, and they apply to most kitchen projects. Getting them right protects you, your home and any future sale. This guide explains the key areas — electrics, gas, ventilation, drainage and structure — and what “notifiable” means in practice.
Regs at a glance
- Electrics — Part P, notifiable
- Gas — Gas Safe registered only
- Ventilation — extractor required
- Drainage — correct falls & traps
- Structural — building control sign-off
- Certificates — keep for resale
Electrical safety — Part P
Electrical work in a kitchen is covered by Building Regulations Part P. Adding new circuits — for an oven, hob, sockets or lighting — is notifiable work that must be certified, either by a registered electrician who can self-certify under a competent person scheme, or by notifying building control. Like-for-like replacement of a socket or fitting on an existing circuit is generally not notifiable, but anything involving new circuits is. Always insist on the electrical certificate and keep it.
| Area | Regulation | Who signs it off |
|---|---|---|
| New electrical circuits | Part P (notifiable) | Registered electrician / building control |
| Gas hob / appliance | Gas safety | Gas Safe registered engineer |
| Ventilation | Approved Document F | Installer / building control |
| Drainage / waste | Approved Document H | Plumber / building control |
| Removing a load-bearing wall | Structural (Part A) | Structural engineer + building control |
Gas safety
Any gas work — connecting or moving a gas hob, or running a new gas supply — must be carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer. This is a legal requirement, not a recommendation. If you are switching to an induction or ceramic electric hob, there is no gas work, but the electrical supply for it is covered by Part P. Never let an unregistered person work on gas.
Ventilation, drainage and structure
Kitchens must have adequate ventilation to remove moisture and cooking by-products — usually an extractor fan or cooker hood, ideally ducted outside — under Approved Document F. New or altered drainage and waste pipes must run with the correct falls and traps under Approved Document H. And removing or altering a load-bearing wall — common when going open-plan — is structural work requiring a structural engineer and building control inspection under Part A. See open-plan considerations.
How to stay compliant
The simplest route to compliance is to use registered tradespeople — a Gas Safe registered engineer for gas and a registered electrician for the wiring — who can certify their own work, and to involve building control for any structural change. A good kitchen fitter will coordinate this. This is general information, not advice for your specific project; Building Regulations are detailed and your local building control can confirm what applies. Always use registered installers.
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Frequently asked questions
Does a new kitchen need Building Regulations approval?
Yes, in most cases — even when no planning permission is needed. The work must meet Building Regulations for electrical safety (Part P), gas safety, ventilation, drainage and any structural change. Registered tradespeople can usually self-certify their work.
Is kitchen electrical work notifiable?
Adding new circuits — for an oven, hob, sockets or lighting — is notifiable under Part P and must be certified by a registered electrician or notified to building control. Like-for-like replacement on an existing circuit is generally not notifiable.
Who can connect a gas hob?
Only a Gas Safe registered engineer can legally connect or move a gas hob or run a gas supply. This is a legal requirement. If you switch to an electric or induction hob there is no gas work, but the electrical supply is covered by Part P.
Do I need ventilation in a kitchen?
Yes. Building Regulations require adequate ventilation to remove moisture and cooking by-products, usually an extractor fan or cooker hood, ideally ducted to outside. This is covered by Approved Document F.
Sources & further reading
- GOV.UK / Building Regulations Approved Document P — electrical safety in dwellings
- Gas Safe Register — legal requirements for gas work
- GOV.UK / Approved Documents F and H — ventilation and drainage
- TrustMark — finding and checking registered tradespeople
This is general information, not advice for your specific project. Building Regulations are detailed — your local building control can confirm what applies. Always use registered installers for gas and electrical work.