From 1 April 2025, Building Warrant fees in Scotland will see an increase as part of a three-year model developed following a public consultation in 2023. This model aims to support local authority verifiers and strengthen the building standards system in Scotland.
Some key points:
Fixed Fees: Some fixed fees, such as those for extensions to warrants and amendments for work not exceeding £5,000, will remain unchanged. However, fees for late building warrants and completion certificates, where no warrant was obtained, will increase to £300 and £500, respectively.
Revenue Use: The additional revenue generated from these fee increases will be used to improve and strengthen the services provided by verifiers. This includes supporting the Scottish Building Standards Hub (SBSH), which aims to enhance consistency and provide additional support in areas like fire engineering, energy, and structures.
Future Increases: The model is designed to deliver a cumulative increase of approximately £8 million (23%) in building warrant fee income by the end of the 2025/26 financial year.
In addition to the revised national fees table, the locally applied cost per square metre rates, used to check estimated build costs, will also be reviewed to take into account increases in building costs. From 1 April 2025 the updated local minimum square metre rate for new build dwellings will be £1,947 per square metre.
Please refer to the Fees Guidance pages on the building standards webpages for further information on building warrant fees.
Further information on national fee increases can be found on the Scottish Government website - Building Standards Building Warrant Fee Increases 2025.