The council’s regulatory services are responsible for several different enforcement functions namely; 

• trading standards
• licensing
• food safety
• food standards
• health and safety at work
• noise and nuisance
• environmental protection
• environmental crime
• highways
• private sector housing
• building control
• planning enforcement
• anti-social behaviour (ASB)

Each area uses different legislation to ensure compliance of the law within the borough and each has its own extensive body of regulations, codes of practices and guidance. See the list below for some of our policies: (add the policies below as accordions)

Licensing Policy

The Barking and Dagenham Licensing Policy sets out how the Council regulates alcohol, entertainment, and late-night refreshment as required by the Licensing Act 2003.

Licensing Policy (PDF, 605.39 KB)

Enforcement Policy

The Barking and Dagenham Regulatory Services Enforcement Policy sets out how the Council enforces laws across areas like housing, licensing, and environmental protection, underpinned by statutory duties.

Find the Enforcement Policy on the 'Housing standards' page

Gambling Policy

The Barking and Dagenham Gambling Licensing Policy sets out how the Council regulates gambling locally, fulfilling its legal duty under the Gambling Act 2005.

Gambling Policy (PDF, 4.77 MB)

Sex Establishments Policy

The Barking and Dagenham Sex Establishments Licensing Policy sets out how the Council regulates sex shops, sex cinemas, and sex entertainment venues as required by statute.

Sex Establishments Policy (PDF, 223.23 KB)

The new versions of the Enforcement Policy and Sex Establishment Policy are currently in development and will be renewed by next year.

Air Quality Action Plan

Find the Air Quality Action Plan on the 'Report air quality issues' page

CCTV Strategy

Find the Public space CCTV strategy on the 'Closed-circuit television (CCTV)' page

Civil Penalty Policy Under the Housing & Planning Act 2016

Find the Civil Penalty Policy on the 'Housing standards' page

Community Safety Partnership Plan

Our Community Safety Partnership Plan sets out how local organisations will work together to reduce crime, improve safety, and support victims - fulfilling the Council’s statutory duty under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.

Community Safety Partnership Plan (PDF, 734 KB)

Contaminated Land Inspection Strategy

Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, the Council is required to take a strategic approach to inspect the land within its area, and to identify and prioritise contaminated land which is most likely to pose an unacceptable risk to human health.

Find the Contaminated Land Inspection Strategy on the 'Land Contamination' page 

Empty Homes Policy

Our Empty Homes Policy outlines how we identify and tackle long-term empty properties to bring them back into use, using powers under housing and planning legislation, as part of our statutory responsibilities to improve housing and reduce homelessness.

Find the Empty Homes Policy on the 'Empty properties and second homes' page 

Private Sector Housing and Property Licensing Regulatory and Enforcement Policy

This policy distils the Council’s objectives for Private Sector Housing and Property Licensing regulatory and enforcement functions.

Private Sector Housing and Property Licensing Regulatory and Enforcement Policy (PDF, 447.81 KB)

Serious Violence Duty Strategy

This Strategy document has been produced as part of the requirements of the Serious Violence Duty, introduced by the Police Crime Sentencing and Courts Act 2022. 

The Duty requires specified authorities to work together to prevent and reduce serious violence, including identifying the kinds of serious violence that occur in the area, the causes of that violence, and to prepare and implement a strategy for preventing and reducing serious violence. 

Serious Violence Duty Strategy (PDF, 6.1 MB)

VAWG Strategy

Find the VAWG Strategy on the 'Ending violence against women and girls' page

Asset Management Strategy

In development 

Damp and Mould Policy

The Damp and Mould Policy sets out how we will manage and prevent damp and mould in our properties to keep homes safe, warm, and dry to protect residents’ health and safety.

Damp and Mould Policy (PDF, 311.92 KB)

Ending Rough Sleeping Plan

The Ending Rough Sleeping Plan outlines key actions to reduce rough sleeping locally and is a statutory requirement linked to the Rough Sleeping Initiative 2022–25 funding, as set out by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC).

Ending Rough Sleeping Plan (PDF, 105.71 KB)

Interim Housing Strategy

In development

Housing Strategy

In development

Fleet Strategy

In development

Flooding Strategy and annexes

It is a statutory requirement of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 that all lead local flood authorities publish a local flood risk management strategy (Section 9, sub-section 7). Barking and Dagenham is the lead local flood authority for its municipality.

Local flood risk management strategy (PDF, 1.27 MB)

Summary of the local flood risk management strategy (PDF, 22.96 KB) - This outlines the impacts of the strategy as well as highlighting how it can help residents and businesses to reduce flood risk.

Annex A - Action plan 2017 to 2023 (PDF, 220.91 KB)

Annex B - Map of rivers (PDF, 1.21 MB)

Annex C - Example of investigation priority (PDF, 102.54 KB)

The Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) is a statutory document required under the NPPF (National Planning Policy Framework) to inform the preparation of the Local Plan, planning decisions and the design of development within the borough. It is a source of technical information for the local flood risk management strategy. The SFRA Level 1 and Level 2 reports 2017 are available on the Local Plan review page, under the evidence base.

Parking Strategy

Find the Parking Strategy on the 'Parking policy and guidance' page

Joint Strategy for East London’s Resources and Waste

This Joint Strategy sets out how the five Partner Authorities, namely the East London Waste Authority (ELWA) and the London Boroughs of Barking and Dagenham, Havering, Newham and Redbridge, will preserve resources by minimising waste, promoting resource efficiency and moving towards a circular economy, all of which will help to protect the natural environment and reduce carbon emissions.

Joint Strategy for East London’s Resources and Waste (PDF, 2.16 MB)

Tree and Woodland Strategy

In development