Local Authority Charging Regulations 2026
What the new regulations mean for your building control submissions
From 6 November 2026 a new local authority charging framework will come into effect in England.
The new regulations will enable local authorities to set charges for a range of building control functions. This will include the submission of notices and certificates by Registered Building Control Approvers (RBCAs), such as NHBC Building Control Services Ltd (BCS).
To support our customers, we have compiled answers to key questions about the Local Authority Charging Regulations 2026 below.
If you have any further queries, please contact LACR@nhbc.co.uk.
Frequently asked questions
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These will be implemented on 6 November 2026 and apply to any Local Authority in England with an applicable published charging scheme.
Implementation arrangements may differ between Local Authorities, so customers should check with the relevant Local Authority for their development to confirm whether charges apply.
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The regulations apply in England only.
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Where NHBC acts as the Registered Building Control Approver (RBCA), charges may be incurred for any of the following document types submitted on or after 6 November 2026:
- Initial Notices
- Amendment Notices
- Plans Certificates
- Combined Initial Notices and Plans Certificates
- Final Certificates
- Extension of Time
- Transfer Certificates and Transfer Reports
- Notifications concerning a change in the person intending to carry out the work
- Cancellation of an Initial Notice, including where work becomes higher-risk building work
- Work relating to an Initial Notice ceasing to be in force and the transfer of a project back to a Local Authority
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No. These are Local Authority charges introduced under new Government legislation and are not charges determined or controlled by NHBC.
NHBC is unable to absorb these charges and will recover applicable charges on behalf of the relevant Local Authorities through a consolidated monthly invoice.
NHBC receives no financial benefit from these charges.
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Each Local Authority can set its own charges, so there is no standard fixed fee.
Customers should check with the relevant Local Authority for their development to confirm whether a charging scheme has been implemented and to understand the applicable fees.
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To minimise administration, NHBC will recover applicable Local Authority charges on behalf of the relevant Local Authorities through a consolidated monthly invoice.
Rather than receiving separate invoices for individual notices or certificates, all applicable charges incurred during the month will be grouped together and presented in a single monthly statement and invoice issued directly by a NHBC Building Control Services Ltd (BCS).
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Each monthly statement will clearly identify:
- The relevant development and plot(s)
- The notice or certificate type
- The date submitted
- The applicable Local Authority charge
- The total amount payable
This will provide customers with a clear audit trail and greater transparency over how the charges have been calculated.
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No. These changes relate solely to statutory Building Control charges. NHBC warranty products, warranty cover and warranty fees are unaffected by these new arrangements.
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Payment to the Local Authority is required at the point of submission, and non-payment may lead to rejection of the relevant notice.
Where NHBC acts as the Registered Building Control Approver, any applicable charges will be initially be paid by NHBC and recovered from customers through a consolidated monthly invoice. Payment will be due in accordance with standard NHBC payment terms, as detailed on the invoice.
Charges will only be invoiced once they have been incurred in connection with the relevant notice or certificate activity.
These charges can be changed at any time, provided the Local Authority publishes the changes on its website seven days in advance.
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We do not expect these changes to impact the progress of your projects, including the timely completion of final inspections and associated certification.
NHBC has introduced new processes to manage these arrangements and support the continued submission and delivery of notices and certificates to Local Authorities with minimal disruption.
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Certificates are made available through the portal for our customers to use. Certificates may be available before they have been submitted, reviewed or accepted by the relevant Local Authority. Availability through the portal does not guarantee that a certificate has been accepted by the Local Authority. If you use or rely on a certificate before the relevant Local Authority has accepted it, you do so entirely at your own risk.
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Further information is available through the following links:
Building control: charges, notices and certificates
Customers should also check the relevant Local Authority's website for information on applicable charges.