Apply for a building warrant

After applying for planning permission (if required) and sending your completed building warrant application to us, we begin our vetting process. The building warrant vetting process can be looked at in two stages:

Stage 1
When we receive your application and plans it is checked and logged on to our online tracking system. One of the surveyors will then begin to assess the application. They will make sure that all necessary information is shown and that it complies fully with the current building regulations. Following this assessment, we may write to you or your appointed agent to ask for more information or we may approve your application. We aim to have this initial assessment completed within 20 working days however paper applications generally take longer to process due to postage time and delays.

Stage 2
The second stage begins when you inform us the work has started on-site. Visits may be made to check that the work is carried out in accordance with the approved drawings and therefore complies with the regulations.

The final visit takes place once the works are complete. Once you are satisfied that the works meet the requirements of the building regulations then submit the completion certificate to us. If everything meets our requirements the completion certificate will be accepted. If any of the work does not meet the necessary requirements then you will be given more time for this to be done before we carry out another inspection.

If you would like to request an inspection, please complete the building warrant inspection form.

We can only accept payment online or by phone, please see the fee list to check the amount due.

We do not accept payments unless an application form has been submitted. Payments submitted without a valid online reference number will be refunded.

Online payments

You can access the payment section by using the link below. Please ensure you select the correct payment type from the list, for the payment you are making.

The following information must be included when completing the payment screen:

• In the reference box, enter your warrant reference number i.e. 13/00499/NBH.
• Add the amount you intend to pay i.e. £100.00.
• In the optional description, box enter the postal address with the postcode of the site.

Alternative payment methods

Please contact us if you are unable to make a payment online. In some cases (e.g. registered charities) we can arrange an alternative such as a bank transfer.

All payments must be received within 5 working days of your building warrant application or your application may be returned.

Fife Council offer a pre-submission discussion service to allow you to discuss your intended work and give advice before you submit your building warrant.

Who is the service aimed at?

In general, the service is most appropriate for large-scale developments involving complex design and construction matters and it is not anticipated that this option will be taken up for smaller-scale building work.

What benefits does this new service offer?

Developers are perfectly free to follow the usual process of submitting a building warrant and these will go through the normal warrant process. For larger scale developments there may be benefits in having a pre-submission discussion.

This discussion helps developers and building standards surveyors to agree on a way forward in terms of the functional technical standards and also determine any additional information that may be required to process the warrant. This may include: drainage reports, site investigation reports and engineer’s details.

Following a pre-submission discussion all building warrants submitted, with all the agreed supporting information in place, will be granted by Fife Council no later than 21 days from the date of submission. This is irrespective of the size or complexity of that development. Alternatively, if only certain aspects of the project are considered, the agreed principles and/or details will be noted and applied to any subsequent warrant application.

Is there a charge for the service?

The charge for the service will be £120.00 per hour as this is outwith the required statutory duty to process a warrant.

How can I arrange a meeting?

Developers, architects or agents who wish to take advantage of this service should arrange a mutually suitable time and venue to discuss the application. The appointment will normally be with the Area Lead Officer and an appropriate surveyor to work through outstanding questions, concerns, etc. in terms of any development.

To make an appointment, please use the contact details provided.

A building warrant application may include proposals that do not follow the technical guidance but instead propose an alternative approach to complying with the mandatory Technical Standard.

In cases where an alternative approach includes a fire-engineered solution, the local authority must follow the requirements introduced by the Scottish Government Building Standards Division in 2018.  These additional checks may require an assessment by a third-party fire engineer and will take additional time.  Please take these timescales into consideration when submitting your building warrant application and contact us if you have any concerns.  Our contact details are on the main Building Standards & Public Safety page

More details of the requirements are available on the Scottish Government website – Application for Building Warrant - Section 2 - Fire.

Once a building warrant has been approved, there may be a variety of reasons why it is not possible to complete the project exactly to the approved plans.  If this is the case you must complete the Amendment of Building Warrant Form.  The amendment will be processed in the same way as your first application.

We can advise you on what plans, drawings and specifications should accompany your application.  Work included in your amendment application should not be carried out on-site until the amendment has been approved.