10/11/2026
📢On the 6th November 2026, new building control charges came into effect.
Here's what you need to know:
Under the Building (Local Authority Charges and Amendments Relating to Charging) (England) Regulations 2026, local authorities in England now have the power to charge for processing building control notices and certificates submitted by Registered Building Control Approvers (RBCAs), including OWL.
These charges cover documents such as:
▪️ Initial Notices
▪️ Amendment Notices
▪️ Final Certificates, including partial Final Certificates
📋So what does this mean for your project?
Each local authority sets its own fees, so there is no standard national charge. Local authorities must publish their charging schemes online at least seven days before they take effect. Where a charge applies, payment is required for the relevant notice or certificate. Non-payment is grounds for the local authority to reject the submission.
🦉How is OWL supporting clients?
For new projects, OWL's quotations now include an estimated allowance for the relevant local authority charges associated with an Initial Notice and one Final Certificate. When a client accepts the quotation, they authorise OWL to make these payments to the local authority on their behalf.
We will also check the relevant local authority's published charges before submitting notices, helping clients understand the costs involved. Additional notices and certificates during a project can result in further charges.
For more information, you can read the government's guidance (link in comments).
If you have questions about how these changes affect your project, please get in touch with the OWL team.
📞01488 669124
📧[email protected]
