Building Control
Wexford County Council is the Building Control Authority encompassing all Wexford Local Authorities. Part of Building Control is undertaken by our Planning Department, who administer the Building Control Register for Commencement Notices and Dispensations/Relaxation under Article 14 of the Building Control Regulations. These are available for viewing at our public counter. A copy of an entry in the register is €12.50. All other responsibilities are undertaken by the Building Control Officer.
Commencement Notice
Before starting construction, having received a final grant of planning permission, or, for any other works for which Fire Safety Certificates are required under Part lll of the Building Control Regulations, you must send a commencement notice to us. This notice is required by law, and works must not start unless you have submitted a valid notice. This is in accordance with legislation under - Building Control Act 1990 & 2007, and Building Control Regulations 1997 to 2009. A Commencement Notice is not required for works, or, a change of use, which are considered exempted development under planning regulations.
The notice should be received by the Planning Department not less than 14 days and not more than 28 days before the date on which construction starts. The notification starts when the form is date-stamped in our offices.
A commencement notice may cover more than one building and there is a fee of €30 per building. The maximum fee payable is €3,800. Without the correct fee, the commencement notice cannot be accepted.
The notice contains 7 sections, all of which must be completed. If any information is omitted, the commencement notice is invalid, and returned. Read through Guidance Notes prior to filling out the notice.
Dispensation or Relaxation of Building Regulations
Relaxation of the Building Control Regulations Section 4 and Section 5 of the Building Control Act, 1990 deal with ‘a Dispensation from, or a relaxation of, any requirement of Building Regulations’.
Section 4(1) of the Building Control Act, 1990 empowers a Building Control Authority to grant a dispensation from, or a relaxation of, any Requirement of Building Regulations in respect of buildings or works, which are situated within the functional area of the authority.
Only requirements of Building Regulations may be given relaxations or dispensations.
An application for a Dispensation from, or Relaxation of, any requirement of the Building Regulations must be made on the form set out in the fourth of the Building Regulations, 1997 (Statutory Instrument No. 497 of 1997). The fee is €125 dwelling and €250 for any other building. This Application Form is available from the following:
Relaxation Dispensation Application Form
or
Building Control Authority,
Planning Department,
Wexford County Council,
Carricklawn,
Wexford.
Telephone: 053 9196000 (option 2) – Planning Customer Service Unit
- Commencement Notice Notes (PDF Document, 73 KB)
- Commencement Notice Form (PDF Document, 53 KB)
