Building Control Fees Review

New fees for work undertaken by Building Control officers from St Albans City and District Council have been announced.

Building Control officers have to check that fire safety, drainage, ventilation, energy performance and access regulations are all being met.

The fees cover work done on new homes, extensions, conversions of garages and lofts as well as other internal alterations. The last price change was in 2012.

Building Control carries out a wide variety of tasks to ensure properties comply with the Building Regulations laid down by the Government. Developers can also purchase this service from private sector businesses.

The rules are intended to ensure buildings are structurally sound and meet the health, safety and welfare interests of the people using them.

The update covers 29 types of work with some fees going up and others going down. 

A meeting of St Albans City and District Council’s Cabinet on Thursday 24 September is to be briefed about the fee changes.

Councillor Julian Daly, Executive Leader and Portfolio Holder for Planning and Conservation for St Albans City and District Council, said: “The new fee structure will continue to provide value for money to our customers.

“The fees are set so that  the service operates to break even.”

The Council is obliged to make a charge for the work of administering the Building Regulations and must stick to the amount stated in its fee schedule.

The charges are intended to cover no more than the cost of carrying out the work.

Other new benefits to the customer include the planned introduction of paperless online applications.

The changes will come into effect on October 1.

Fee stages depend on whether a Building Notice or Full Plans are submitted.

A Building Notice is suitable for small works such as the removal of a load bearing wall. Full Plans are for larger works such as a loft conversion or the construction of a new home.

Further information on the work undertaken by Building Control can be found on: https://www.stalbans.gov.uk/planning-and-building-control

Councillor contact:

Cllr Julian Daly, Executive Leader and Portfolio Holder for Planning and Conservation, St Albans City and District Council 

Tel: 01582 715645 Email: Cllr.J.Daly@stalbans.gov.uk

Contact for the media:

John McJannet, Principal Communications Officer, St Albans City District Council

Tel: 01727 296130 

E-mail: john.mcjannet@stalbans.gov.uk