The Building Regulations (Charges and Amendments to Charges) come into force on the 6 November 2026, and the charges will begin from the 9 November 2026.
What is an Initial Notice?
An initial notice is a key document in the building control process. It serves two important functions:
- Notification - it informs the Local Authority that building control for your project is being managed by a Building Control Approver (or Approved Inspector), rather than the authority itself.
- Registration - it officially registers your project on the Local Authority’s system. This means that any future legal searches, for example those carried out by conveyancing solicitors during property transactions, can access accurate and up-to-date information.
Submitting an initial notice is a vital part of ensuring that your project complies with building regulations and is properly recorded for future reference.
Charges
From the 6 of November 2026 local authority building control will charge a £60 flat fee for the associated administration pertaining to accepting, rejecting or considering notices and certificates submitted by private sector Registered Building Control Approvers.
Payment must be made at the point of submission online through the following link here. Please choose 'All Other Payments, Planning & Building Control then Building Control Applications'. Please ensure that the initial notice reference is included under 'Application Number'.
Please note that these charges are on a cost-recovery basis, to allow the council to recoup the expenses incurred by the processes of inputting and amending initial notices; rather than to make a net-gain.
Failure to pay the fee may result in the council pursuing the debt as an unpaid charge.