Building control application fees

On this page

• Building control fees overview
• How fees are calculated
• Domestic extensions and alterations
• New homes and developments
• Commercial and non-domestic buildings
• Reversions (transferring from a private approver)
• Cancellation fees
• Additional administrative fees
• How to pay

Building control fees (1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027)

Building control fees cover the direct cost of the service, based on the time surveyors spend checking plans and inspecting building work on site.

Fees are updated on 1 April each year.

Please note: If you cancel an application after submitting it, there is an administration charge of £75 plus VAT (£90 total).

How fees are calculated

How much you pay depends on the type of application and the scale of your project:

• Full plans applications: you pay in two stages. A plan check fee is paid when you submit your application. An inspection fee is invoiced after work starts on site and covers all visits through to completion.
• Building notice applications: you pay a single, fixed fee when you submit. This covers both plan review and all site inspections.
• Regularisation applications (unauthorised work): you pay a single fee when applying. Regularisation fees are statutory charges and do not attract VAT.
• Commercial and bespoke projects: individually assessed based on the estimated cost of work and required surveyor hours. Email the building control team at building.control@thanet.gov.uk for an individually assessed quote.

Domestic extensions and alterations

These fixed fees apply to works on existing single residential homes.

New homes and developments

Developments with multiple plots

Fees for developments with multiple plots are priced individually based on:

• The total number of plots
• The number of different house types
• The complexity of the build (which determines the required Registered Building Inspector competence class)

Contact the building control team at building.control@thanet.gov.uk for a quote.

Commercial and non-domestic buildings

For non-domestic alterations, fees are determined by the total estimated cost of the building work (excluding VAT and professional fees):

How to request an individual quote

To get a quote for commercial, bespoke, or complex building work, email building.control@thanet.gov.uk. Include:

• The site address and planning reference number (if you have one)
• Architectural drawings, floor plans, or sketches showing the proposed work
• The estimated construction cost or total internal floor area

Reversions (transferring from a private approver)

If your private building control approver can no longer supervise your project, the work must legally revert to Thanet District Council.

Reversion fees are individually calculated based on:

• The complexity and scale of the project
• The site records, photos, and inspection notes received from your previous approver
• The amount of construction work remaining to be inspected

To start a reversion assessment, visit our reversion applications guidance page.

Cancellation fees

If you cancel an application after submitting it, there is an administration charge of £75 plus VAT (£90 total). If surveyors have already reviewed plans or visited the site, additional costs covering officer time will also be charged.

Additional administrative fees

How to pay

Building control fees are due when you submit your application, not when building work starts on site.

Full plans application fees

If you submit a full plans application, the cost is split into 2 separate payments:

• Plan check fee: paid when you submit your application so our surveyors can check your architectural drawings and technical specifications. This is payable by BACS. Payment must be paid within 7 days of receipt of the acknowledgement letter.
• Inspection fee: invoiced after our building control surveyor carries out the first inspection on site, covering all subsequent site visits until completion

If you submit a building notice or regularisation application, you must pay the full fee upfront when you apply.

For full plans applications, we cannot process your application or check your plans until your payment has been received.

Building notice application fees

A building notice will be invoiced 7 days after an application is submitted. Payment must be made within 30 days of receiving the invoice.

Payment methods

You can pay your invoice using one of the following methods:

• Bank transfer (BACS): pay directly from your bank account using the council’s bank details and your invoice reference number
• Debit or credit card: you will be given a telephone number to call to make a secure card payment over the phone
• Cheque: send a cheque made payable to ‘Thanet District Council’, writing your invoice number and site address clearly on the back

If you are paying via BACS, please contact the office on 01843 577522 before submitting your application.