A Commencement Notice is a notification to a Building Control Authority that a person intends to carry out either works or a material change of use to which the Building Regulations apply. The notice must be given to the authority not more than 28 days and not less than 14 days before the commencement of works or the change of use. For details on the requirements relating to commencement notices see Part II of the Building Control Regulations 1997 (as amended).
Commencement Notices are submitted online via the Building Control Management System (BCMS). If you have not used the BCMS previously for the submission of any notice or application relating to Building Control, it will be necessary for you to sign up for a BCMS account in order to access the online submission facility.
Please go to BCMS and use the Sign Up option to register for an account. Instructional videos can be found on the National Building Control Office YouTube Channel.
Where Building Regulations apply to the building or works, a Commencement Notice will be required for the following:
- The erection of a building,
- The material alteration or extension of a building, or material change of use of a building,
- Works in connection with the material alteration (excluding minor works) of a shop, office or industrial building.
A Commencement Notice may be required in certain circumstances where planning permission is not required e.g. for an extension with a floor area not exceeding 25m² or certain material alterations.
A Commencement Notice is not required for the following –
- works or a change of use which are exempted development under the Planning Acts, and for which a Fire Safety Certificate is not required;
- where a 7 Day Notice is submitted
There are 4 types of commencement notice currently available: