Building Regulations

BUILDING REGULATION FEES

All works which comes within the remit of Building Regulations attract a fee. The only exemptions are where the works are exclusively for a person with a disability, or where the works are described as exempt.

The scale of fees is prepared by the Department of Environment for Northern Ireland and presented in an appropriate statutory instrument. The fees are not increased on an annual basis, but periodically as the Department deems appropriate. As some of the fees are based on an estimated cost of works, any increase in building work generally will be reflected in a corresponding increase in the Building Control fee payable. Proposals where a fixed fee applies are not so affected.

The appropriate Building Control fee is submitted with the plans and other information to the Building Control Department. The application is not registered as being valid without the requisite fee being paid. Indeed if the plans are submitted without the appropriate fee, and works were to commence on site, this is technically unapproved works which can give rise to appropriate legal proceedings.

The amount of plan fee to be paid depends on the proposal. There is a fixed rate for certain domestic extensions, detached domestic buildings such as garages, roof space conversions and houses up to 250m² in area. All of these have a fixed fee for assessment of plans which your local Building Control office at Antrim Borough Council can advise.

In small extensions, less than 20 m², the plan fee also covers any and all inspections subsequently carried out on site. If part of the works are to be used solely for a person with a disability, those works are separated from the fee calculation and a fee applied to the remainder of the proposed works only.

Full Plans Application

For a Full Plans Application, a Plan fee is submitted together with the relevant documentation aforementioned. After the initial inspection by Building Control Officers, an Inspection Fee is raised. This is a one off payment and covers all inspections carried out.

Building Notice Application

For a Building Notice Application, the Fee is exactly the same as for a Full Plans submission except that in all cases, the full fee is submitted together with the application. This fee is equivalent to the plan fee and inspection fees payable for a Full Plans submission.

Building Regularisation Application

A fee amounting to 120% of the current plan and inspection fee for works carried out is payable on submission of a Regularisation Application.