United Kingdom · guide · 21 September 2026
Enforcement notice vs CAR on the EA Public Register — reading literacy
The Environment Agency publishes Compliance Assessment Reports (CARs) and enforcement documents on the public register for permitted sites. They serve different purposes and appear under different headings on Public Register Online. This page explains how to tell them apart when reading the register — not how to respond to either document.
Free CAR check · £19.99 Full CARBrief · £49.99 Permit + CAR Review — sourced reading only; not EA advocacy or permit drafting.
What a CAR is
A Compliance Assessment Report (CAR) is the EA's record of findings from a compliance assessment or inspection. It typically includes:
- Assessed areas and permit conditions reviewed.
- Non-compliances with CCS risk categories and points (C1–C4).
- Actions required and response deadlines.
- Whether enforcement is being considered.
A CAR is a compliance record — it documents what the EA found and what it expects you to do. It is not, by itself, a statutory enforcement notice. See how to read a CAR.
What an enforcement notice is
An enforcement notice is a formal statutory document issued under environmental legislation (for example the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016). It legally requires the recipient to take specified action by a stated date. Typical features on the register:
- Labelled as an enforcement notice, suspension notice, or similar statutory notice type.
- States the legal power under which it was issued.
- Sets out required works or actions and a compliance deadline.
- May include appeal rights and time limits for appeal — quote what the notice prints.
If you receive an enforcement notice, instruct a solicitor. CARBrief reads CARs; we do not advise on statutory notice compliance or appeals.
How they differ on Public Register Online
On a site page in Public Register Online, CARs and enforcement documents usually appear in separate lists or tabs under the compliance section:
- CARs — dated assessment records with scored findings and action deadlines.
- Site warnings — informal enforcement letters (see site warning explained).
- Enforcement notices — formal statutory notices requiring action.
- Civil sanctions and prosecutions — separate enforcement outcomes, listed when published.
Do not assume a CAR entry in the compliance list is an enforcement notice, or that absence of a notice on the register means no enforcement action is pending. Very recent documents may not yet appear online. See how to find your permit online.
When a CAR mentions enforcement
A CAR may state that enforcement is being considered if required actions are not completed by the deadline. That wording means the EA is flagging possible next steps — it does not mean an enforcement notice has already been issued.
To check whether a formal notice has followed, look separately at the enforcement section of the public register after the CAR date. A site warning may appear before a formal notice. See what happens after a CAR for reading literacy on follow-up — not advice on how to respond.
How to tell them apart in four steps
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Check the document label — "Compliance Assessment Report" vs "Enforcement notice" (or suspension notice, etc.).
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Look for CCS scores — CARs assign risk categories and points; enforcement notices do not use the CCS scoring format.
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Read the legal basis — enforcement notices cite statutory powers; CARs cite assessment findings and permit conditions.
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Check the register section — CARs sit in the compliance assessment list; enforcement notices sit in the enforcement list. Do not conflate the two.
What CARBrief does with CARs (not enforcement notices)
CARBrief extracts and organises Compliance Assessment Reports — findings, CCS scores, linked permit conditions, deadlines, and checklists. We do not draft responses to enforcement notices, advise on appeals, or interpret statutory notice requirements. That is legal advice.
On the three products:
- Free CAR check (£0) — count of actions or non-compliances plus deadlines.
- Full CARBrief (£19.99) — findings with cited condition references, severity as printed, deadlines, checklist.
- Permit + CAR Review (£49.99) — extracts cited permit conditions cross-referenced to CAR findings.
Common questions
Is a CAR the same as an enforcement notice?
No. A CAR is a compliance assessment record that documents findings from an inspection or assessment, assigns CCS scores, and states required actions. An enforcement notice is a statutory document that legally requires specific action under environmental legislation. They appear in different sections on Public Register Online.
Can a CAR lead to an enforcement notice?
Yes. A CAR may state that enforcement is being considered if required actions are not completed by the stated deadline. That does not mean an enforcement notice has already been issued — check the enforcement section of the public register separately.
Where do I find enforcement notices on the public register?
On Public Register Online, navigate to your site page and open the compliance or enforcement section. CARs, site warnings, enforcement notices, civil sanctions, and prosecutions are listed as separate document types.
Will CARBrief help me comply with an enforcement notice?
No. We organise CARs into sourced readings. We do not advise on statutory notice compliance, appeals, or remediation strategy. Instruct a solicitor or environmental consultant if you receive an enforcement notice.
Informational guide only. Sources: EA Enforcement and Sanctions Policy; Access the public register for environmental information. Public sector information reused under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Last reviewed 21 September 2026. CARBrief is not the Environment Agency.