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Building Control Fees and Charges Guidance Note

Building Act 1984 | Building Regulations 2010 | Building (Local Authority Charges) Regulations 2010 London Building Acts (Amendment) Act 1939 - Section 30

Overview

Before you build, extend or convert a property, you or your agent (i.e. Architect, Builder, Surveyor or Developer) must advise the Council either by submitting Full Plans or a Building Notice.

If you submit Full Plans the local authority will examine them and normally advise you of any necessary changes required to meet the Building Regulations. Building Control Officers inspect the work at various stages during construction. If you submit a Building Notice with a notice of commencement, work can start two days later. Building Control Officers will visit the site at intervals to ensure work conforms to Building Regulations.

Charging Process Overview

Charges are payable as follows:

  • Full Plans submission
    Should you submit Full Plans for approval you will pay a 'Plan charge' to cover the passing or rejection of the plans deposit ed with the local authority, and a subsequent “Inspection charge” to cover the inspection of work to which the plans relate.
  • Building Notice submission
    Should you submit a Building Notice you will pay a 'Building Notice charge', which is payable when the notice is given to the local authority. This is a once and for all payment irrespective of the number of visits made by the Building Control Surveyor.

Whether you choose to deposit full plans or give a building notice the total charge payable is the same.
Full Plans and Building Notice submissions are subject to VAT at the appropriate rate.

  • Regularisation Submission
    Should you apply for a regularisation certificate in respect of unauthorised building work, you will pay a regularisation charge to cover the cost of assessing your application, including all necessary inspections.
    Regularisation Submissions are NOT subject to VAT but arecharged at the Building Notice rate plus 25%.

When are Payments due?

Full Plans submissions, Building Notices and applications for Regularisation Certificates submitted to the local authority must be accompanied by the appropriate charge at the time of submission.
If the appropriate payment has Not been made, then the application/Notice is deemed as not being deposited and work should not commence.
Other charges payable will be charged following the first inspection of the work to which the application relates and a subsequent invoice will be raised.

Resubmissions

Where plans have been either approved or rejected, no further charge is payable on resubmission for substantially the same work.
Discounts may be available on repeat applications – this is assessed by Building Control. If applicable, then please contact us for more information.

Submissions that may be subject to no charge

Some submissions may not require a charge to be paid.
These are:

  • Insertion of insulating material into an existing cavity wall providing the installation is certified to an approved standard and the work is carried out by an 'Approved Installer'.
  • Installation of unvented hot water system, providing the installation is certified to an approved standard and is installed by an 'Approved Installer'.
  • Works solely to provide for access and facilities for disabled persons in dwellings and buildings to which the public have access.

In certain cases, we may agree to charges being paid by instalments. Please contact Building Control. The amount of charges payable may depend on the type of work or the number of dwellings in a building and the total floor area. The following tables  may be used in conjunction with the current Regulations and the Scheme of Charges to calculate the charges.        


If you have any difficulties calculating charges, please contact Building Control our details are at the end of this document. 

Definitions of terms used above:

  • 'Disabled person' means a person who is within any of the descriptions of persons to whom Section 29 (as extended) of the National Assistance Act 1948(a) applies.
  • "Dwelling" includes a dwelling-house and a flat.
  • 'Regularisation charge' is the charge payable when application is made to the local authority for a regularisation certificate in respect of unauthorised building work, commenced on or after 11th November 1985.

You can use the below links to go to the relevant section:

Standard Charges for the Creation of New Dwellings

 

Domestic Extensions and Alterations

 

 

Alterations to a Single Non-Domestic Building