From 6 November 2026, new regulations allow Local Authorities in England to introduce charges for processing certain statutory notices and certificates submitted by Registered Building Control Approvers (RBCAs).
This is an important change for clients using private Building Control services, as it introduces additional administrative costs that may need to be considered during a project's lifetime.
At Delta Building Control, we want to explain what has changed, which documents may be affected and what this could mean for your project.
The changes are set out in The Building (Local Authority Charges and Amendments Relating to Charging) (England) Regulations 2026, supported by Government Circular 05/2026.
What has changed?
The new regulations give Local Authorities in England the ability to recover costs associated with processing certain notices and certificates submitted by private sector RBCAs.
These include:
Initial Notices – submitted when appointing an RBCA for a project.
Amendment Notices – used when changes need to be made to an existing Initial Notice.
Plans Certificates – relating to the assessment of plans.
Final Certificates – submitted following completion of building work.
Transfer documentation – relating to the transfer of Building Control responsibility.
This means that Local Authorities can now introduce charges for carrying out these administrative functions where their charging arrangements allow.
What should clients know?
There are several important points to understand about the new arrangements.
Charges will vary between Local Authorities. There is no single national fee. Each authority determines its own charges through a published charging scheme.
Charging schemes must be published. Local Authorities must publish their charging scheme online at least seven days before it takes effect.
Not every council will necessarily introduce charges on the same date. Existing charging schemes made under the previous regulations remain in place until updated.
The client is responsible for applicable charges. The regulations identify the client as responsible for charges relating to the relevant chargeable functions on their project.
Additional charges may arise. Where a Local Authority needs to carry out more work than originally estimated, it may request a supplementary charge, supported by an explanation and calculation.
Non-payment can affect the submission. Failure to pay an applicable charge can provide grounds for a Local Authority to reject a notice or certificate.
Have the Building Control timeframes changed?
No. The statutory decision periods for processing the relevant notices and certificates have not been extended by these changes.
The existing periods remain:
5 working days for Initial Notices, Amendment Notices and Plans Certificates.
10 working days for Final Certificates.
The regulations also include provisions for refunds where a Local Authority fails to notify the RBCA of its decision within the relevant statutory period, subject to the conditions set out in the legislation.
What does this mean for your project?
The introduction of these charges means that additional Local Authority costs may arise when certain documents are submitted during the Building Control process.
This is particularly relevant for projects that continue over an extended period, as an Amendment Notice or Final Certificate may be required after a Local Authority's charging scheme has come into effect.
We recommend allowing for potential administrative charges when preparing project budgets and discussing any applicable costs with your appointed Building Control Approver.
How Delta Building Control is preparing
We are reviewing the changes and monitoring Local Authority charging schemes across the areas in which we operate.
Our focus is on understanding the requirements of individual authorities and ensuring that any applicable charges are identified and accounted for as part of our submission processes.
Where a charge applies to your project, we will communicate the relevant information and confirm the payment arrangements with you.
Where can you find further information?
The regulations apply to England. Separate arrangements apply to Building Control charging in Wales.
For further information, you can refer to the following official publications:
If you have an upcoming project or would like to discuss how these changes may affect your Building Control arrangements, please get in touch with the Delta Building Control team.
This article provides general information about Local Authority charging arrangements in England as at November 2026. Charges and payment requirements should be checked against the relevant Local Authority's published charging scheme and the legislation applicable to the project.
