GUIDANCE NOTES
The Building Regulations charges are divided into Plan and Inspection fees/charges, Building Notice and Regularisation fees/charges. They are different for each type of work.
The following tables are for guidance only and are not a substitute for the Building (Local Authority Charges) Regulations 1988 which contains a full statement of the law.
All fees/charges are subject to VAT at the appropriate rate except the Regularisation fees/charges. It is possible to pay by cash, cheque - made payable to Sevenoaks District Council - direct debit and credit card.
Full Plans - The Plan fee must be paid on the deposit of the plans with the Council.
Building Notices - The fee must be paid when the notice is submitted to the Council.
Inspection Fees - These will be payable after the first inspection has been undertaken. For projects being dealt with by an agent please ensure that the owner/client is informed of any site inspection fees payable at a later date. The Building's owner will be invoiced unless instructed otherwise on the application forms submitted.
Regularisation Fee - This is 120% of the Building Notice Fee, excluding VAT.
Exemption - Where work is to provide access and facilities in an existing dwelling, or is an extension to store or provide medical treatment for a disabled person, no fee is required.
Total Estimated Cost - This means a reasonable estimate that would be charged by a professional builder, but excluding professional fees and VAT.
Multiple Works - Where plans show more than one type of work (i.e. two separate extensions covered by table 2, categories 3, 4 and 5) the fee payable is aggregated accordingly.
Minor Work - Work referred to in table 2, categories 1, 2 and 3 and work referred to in table 3 estimated as costing under £10,000, the total plan and inspection fee is payable on deposit of the plans.
Instalments - In certain cases the fees may be paid in instalments, contact the Building Control Manager if you feel this would be appropriate for your project.
Help - Please read the explanatory notes in order to determine the appropriate fee. If you have any difficulty, contact the technical registration section on the telephone/extension number above.
1. The total estimated cost is an estimate accepted by the local authority, of such reasonable amounts as would be charged by a person in business for carrying out the proposed work. It does not include VAT and professional fees paid to an architect, quantity surveyor or any other person. Where the fee is based on total estimated cost of the work, a reasonable estimate will be required, which must be deposited with the application.
2. Full plan submissions for work costing less than 10,000, must be accompanied by the total fee at the time of deposit.
For charges relating to:
Applicable cavity wall insulation or applicable unvented hot water systems please refer to schedule 3.
For more information, contact the Building Control section