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
-
These will be implemented on 6 November 2026 and apply to any local authority with an applicable published charging scheme.
-
The charges could apply to any of the following document types:
- Initial Notices
- Amendment Notices
- Plans Certificates
- Combined Initial Notices and Plans Certificates
- Final Certificates
- 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.
-
No. These are local authority charges introduced under new Government legislation and are not charges determined or controlled by NHBC. NHBC are unable to absorb these charges and are currently working on a process of how to pay the charges in the first instance, and then how to charge these back to each developer.
-
Each Local Authority can set its own charges so there is no fixed fee.
-
Payment is required at the point of submission and non-payment may lead to rejection of the relevant notice. These charges can be changed at anytime as long as the Local Authority posts the changes on their website 7 days in advance.
-
The regulations apply in England only.
-
Further information is available through the following links: