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Home > Services > Planning > Building Control > Submitting a Commencement Notice

Submitting a Commencement Notice

The new Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014 came into effect on 1st March 2014. Full details of the Regulations can be downloaded on: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/95d00-building-standards/

 

This advice note is aimed at those preparing to commence works to which the Building Regulations apply. You should carefully read the following information and take the necessary steps to ensure you comply with the requisite Regulations. (Please note that this advice note is for information purposes only and does not purport to be a legal interpretation of the legislation.

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Flowchart to establish if Commencement Notice is Required

 

ACCESS TO THE BUILDING CONTROL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM HERE ...link to BCMS‌

 

1.      Commencement Notice (or 7 Day Notice)

Subject to certain exemptions, the Building Control Regulations require that, a Commencement Notice (or 7 Day Notice) is submitted for:

(a) the erection of a building,

(b) the material alteration or extension of a building, and

(c) a material change of use of a building, to which the Building Regulations apply.

 

It is a requirement that the Commencement Notice is submitted not less than 14 days and not more than 28 days before commencement of the works. 

 

A commencement notice shall be filed electronically on the Building Control Management System (BCMS) or set out in the form for that purpose entitled ‘Form of Commencement Notice for Development’.

 

 

Short Commencement Notice

 

A ‘Short’ Commencement Notice may be submitted for the following categories of development:

(a) Material Alteration of:

                                   •  Shops

                                   • Offices

                                   • Industrial Units

Provided that a Fire Safety certificate is NOT required.

 

(b) An extension to a dwelling involving a floor area less than 40 square meters.

 

Note : Short form commencment notices submitted over the counter will be subject to an additional charge             of € 20 (Twenty Euros)

Submitting a short form commencment notice on line.

When the user selects to create a new Commencement notice there is now an option at the top of the screen 'Select  Notice Type'.  There is another screenshot attached showing this.  

The Builder the Owner and the designer need to accept their roles,

The only documents requirement is the Commencement notice itself.  

 

 

 

 

 

The Requirements for a Full Commencement Notice apply if the works relate to:

(I)   the design and construction of a new dwelling

(II)  an extension to a dwelling involving a total floor area greater than 40 Sqm

(III) works to which Part III (Fire Safety Certificate) applies,

 

the Commencement Notice must also be accompanied by the following:

  • such plans, calculations, specifications and particulars as are necessary to outline how the proposed works or building will comply with the requirements of the Second Schedule to the Building Regulations. This includes—
  • general arrangement drawings including plans, sections and elevations,
  • a schedule of such plans, calculations, specifications and particulars as are currently designed or to be prepared at a later date,
  • the completion of an online assessment, via the Building Control Management System, of the proposed approach to compliance with the requirements of the Second Schedule to the Building Regulations,
  • the preliminary Inspection Plan prepared by the Assigned Certifier, and

 

The following certificates and notices in the appropriate forms

  • Certificate of Compliance (Design),
  • Notice of Assignment of Person to Inspect and Certify Works
  • Certificate of Compliance (Undertaking by Assigned Certifier),
  • Notice of Assignment of Builder,
  • Certificate of Compliance (Undertaking by Builder), and
  • Appropriate fee.

 

 

 

7 Day Notice

Where it is intended to avail of the 7 Day Notice application (works which require a Fire Safety Certificate) the application must also be accompanied by the above in addition to a statutory declaration and a valid application for a Fire Safety Certificate. Applicants should contact to Fire Officers directly

 

Note that;

  1. The Design and Assigned Certifier   must be a Registered Chartered Engineer, or Registered Architect or   Registered Building Surveyor.
  2. The builder must be competent to   undertake the works in accordance with drawings and specifications supplied   and with the building regulations.
  3. The drawings, calculations,   specifications must outline how the proposed works or building will comply   with the technical requirements of the Building Regulations.
  4. The drawings submitted for your   planning permission are not for building control purposes and are not likely   to be sufficient to demonstrate compliance with Building Regulations or to   instruct a builder in the proper execution of the works.

 

 

 

Certificate of Compliance on Completion

For buildings which required a ‘full’ commencement notice a Certificate of Compliance on Completion is required to be lodged with the Building Control Authority on completion of the works. Such a Certificate shall be accompanied by the “Inspection Plan” as implemented by the Assigned Certifier and such plans, calculations, specifications and particulars as are necessary to outline how the works or building as completed differs from the plans, calculations, specifications and particulars previously submitted and complies with the Second Schedule to the Building Regulations.

 

Under the Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2013 before a   building can legally be opened, occupied or used the “Certificate of   Compliance on Completion” must be lodged with the Building Control   Authority and included on the Public Register.

 

To lodge a Commencement Notice On-line

 

A Commencement Notice can be submitted online using the Building Control Management System (BCMS) at: https://www.nbco.localgov.ie/en/link-type/bcms

 

Further Information

 

The Department of Environment, Community and Local Government have produced a guide to the Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014 in the form of frequently asked questions (FAQ’s): Guide to the Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014 (PDF)