Services » Recreation, Amenity & Culture

Building Control

Opening Hours

9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. weekdays.

Tel. + 353 21 4924332 / 4924000.

Fax. + 353 21 4924043.

email: building@corkcity.ie

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Aims and Objectives

The Building Control Department is involved with the administrative and technical process in the enforcement of the statutory building regulations. This Department also has functions concerning dangerous structures, private rented accommodation and safety advice.

Sections

• Building Control
• Dangerous Structures
• Safety Advisory Office
• Private Rented Accommodation
• Drainage and related Health Service Executive matters
• Housing Department Purchase Inspections
• Loans, Grants in Relation to Housing
• Multi-Storey Buildings
• Classes of Records Held

Service Goals

1. to discharge duties and legal functions in an efficient, effective and customer orientated manner
2. to influence and promote good building practices in future developments within Cork City
3. to provide a surveying service to the Housing and Property Departments
4. to promote and assist in ensuring the Health, Safety and Welfare of all employees of Cork City Council

Services Provided

The work of the Building Control Department can be divided into the following categories:

• Building Control Administration, Inspection and Enforcement
• Dangerous Structures Inspections
• Private Rented Accommodation Inspections
• Loans, Grants and Dwelling Inspections
• Drainage and Health Hazards
• Sports Grounds and Outdoor Events
• Safety Advisory Office

Areas of work

There are four Building Inspectors allocated to deal with the above duties. Each inspector deals with a quarter of the City.

At least one Building Inspector is available at all times without an appointment. Individual appointments can be made for other times.

Building Control

The Building Inspectors carry out inspections of buildings under the Building Control Acts, 1990 and 2007. The inspectors are available for discussion on Building Control matters with building owners and their advisors. Complaints made in relation to Building Control issues are pursued by the Inspectors and the Building Control Register of Commencement Notices and Disability Access Certificates is available for public inspection.

Commencement Notices:

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 commencement of works or a material change of use.  The notice must be accompanied by a Commencement Notice Fee, based on the number of buildings (details available on request). 

Commencement notices are required for the following: 
-   the erection of a building;
-   a material alteration or extension of a building;
-   a 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 is not required for works or a change of use which are exempted development under the planning codes, for which a fire safety certificate and disability access certificate is not required or where a ‘7 Day Notice’ has been submitted.  Further infomation is available on request. 

Disability Access Certificate:

The Disability Access Certificate (DAC) was introduced through SI 351 of 2009, in order to improve compliance of buildings with Part M of the Building Regulations, currently Part M 2000.  A Disability Access Certificate is required for new buildings, other than dwellings (but including apartment buildings) and certain works (as set out in Article 20 D (1) of SI 351), to which the Requirements of Part M apply and which commence or take place on or after 1 January 2010.

The application should be accompanied by: 2 sets of drawings (including a site or layout plan), suitably marked, noted and/or highlighted (e.g. coloured, toned or other) and 2 sets of such other particulars (e.g. a technical report) as are necessary to identify and describe the works or building to which the application relates, and to demonstrate how the building or works comply with the Requirements of Part M 2000, in particular in relation to the following, where applicable;

• Approach to a Building
• Access to a Building
• Circulation within a Building 
• Use of facilities within a Building
• Bedrooms in hotels and other guest accommodations
• Sanitary conveniences
• Audience or spectator facilities
• Apartments in a building

Sufficient information should be provided to enable the building control authority to assess whether the works or building would, if constructed in accordance with the said plans and other particulars, comply with the requirements of Part M 2000.

A standard fee of €800.00 must also accompany each application. 

Pre-application meetings to discuss the project with a Bulding Inspector are available by appointment. 

Dangerous Structures and Places

Complaints regarding dangerous structures and places, can be made by the public and are pursued by the relevant Building Inspector and a course of action is recommended. (Legal proceedings may be instituted where necessary).

Tel: 021 4924000 (9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday).

The Department provides a 24 Hour service in relation to dangerous buildings. This service can be accessed through the City Fire Brigade telephone system (021) 4966512 outside of normal hours.