Here in the UK, we have building regulations and planning permission. Building regulations cover making sure the building won't fall down and hurt someone, including regulations about fire safety etc.

Planning permission is where old people who want to keep house prices inflated as they already own property can go to council meetings and object to anything new. Young people can't take part because they have to go to work and stuff, and don't have time to go to council meetings.

What sparkling is saying is that we Europeans have an image of the US having fewer regulations than in our home countries.

I don't live in Poland but here in Europe where I do live there are definitely less rules and zoning is most definitely more relaxed.

Obviously anything safety-related is regulated. But nobody is going to tell you what type or color of roof shingles you need to buy.

Depends on where you live. If you are in a historical protected neighborhood of a city someone definitely will tell you what color and type of roof shingles you need to buy.