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  • Head Office: Áras Chill Dara Devoy Park Naas Co Kildare W91 X77F

Building Control

Building and Development
Control Contacts:

045 980842

buildingcontrol@kildarecoco.ie

Commencement Notices

Building Control records and notifications are submitted and managed through a national online system called Building Control Management System (BCMS)

Subject to limited exemptions, a commencement notice must be submitted in advance of the construction of a new building, the extension of a building or the alteration of a building. The Commencement Notice may be submitted using the BCMS. Each party (owner, designer, builder and assigned certifier) to the project must first register with the BCMS. A building or works may also require a Fire Safety Certificate, a Disability Access Certificate and a Certificate of Compliance on Completion.

It is the current policy for Kildare County Council to request Construction Details for all Commencement Notices. The following information will be requested for all commencement notices:

  1. Construction Details
  2. A Draft Part L Specification Report
  3. The ventilation strategy for the proposed dwelling. Note: Please ensure the construction details match the material specified within the Draft Part L Specification Report.

There are four types of Commencement Notices currently available:     

Commencement Notice without compliance documentation

  • This is the simplest type of notice and is required for material alterations in a shop, office or industrial building where a Fire Safety Certificate is not required.
  • It may also be used for extensions to dwelling houses which measure 40 sq m or less but which requires planning permission.

Commencement Notice with compliance documentation

  • The owner must appoint a builder and registered professional(s) as designer and/or assigned certifier.
  • An inspection plan and a number of construction drawings necessary to outline compliance with the technical requirements of the building regulations are also required.
  • If required, a Fire Safety Certificate must be already GRANTED before this notice is submitted.

Commencement with opt out declaration

  • For the construction of a single domestic dwelling on a development site, or
  • The extension of a domestic dwelling of MORE than 40 sq m, where the owner is choosing to opt out of the requirement for statutory certification.

Seven Day Notice

  • This notice is similar to that described above and allows works to commence before a final Fire Safety Certificate is granted.
  • This notice is only acceptable if it is accompanied by a VALID Fire Safety Certificate application.
  • It is extremely important to submit the correct form of notice and the responsibility to do so rests with the building owner or person commissioning the works.

Check List to accompany a Commencement Notice:

Any Commencement Notice submitted after the 1st March 2014, which comes within the scope of Building Control (Amendment) Regulations (S.I. 9) of 2014 must fill out an online assessment of the proposed approach to compliance with the Building Regulations and be accompanied by the following:

  • Certificate of Compliance (Design)
  • Notice of Assignment of Person to Inspect and Certify Works (Assigned Certifier)
  • Undertaking by Assigned Certifier
  • Notice of Assignment of Builder
  • Undertaking by builder
  • General arrangement drawings for building control purposes – plans, sections and elevations
  • The Designer and the Assigned Certifier must be a Chartered Engineer, Registered
  • A schedule of design documents currently prepared or to be prepared at a later date
  • The preliminary inspection plan
  • Any other documents deemed appropriate by the Assigned Certifier

A comprehensive list of frequently asked questions is provided on the BCMS website. You can find tutorials for navigating the BCMS website here.

Note: The information contained here is intended to present a guide and is not a definitive legal interpretation of the building control laws.