The Planning(Northern Ireland) Order 1991

Penalties for non-compliance with enforcement notice

72.—(1) Subject to this Article, where a copy of an enforcement notice has been served on the person who, at the time when the copy was served on him, was the owner of the land to which the notice relates, then, if any steps required by the notice to be taken (other than the discontinuance of a use of land) have not been taken within the period allowed for compliance with the notice, that person shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.

(2) If a person against whom proceedings are brought under paragraph (1) has, at some time before the end of the period allowed for compliance with the notice, ceased to be the owner of the land, he shall, upon complaint duly made by him and on giving to the prosecution not less than three days' notice of his intention, be entitled to have the person who then became the owner of the land (in this Article referred to as the “subsequent owner”) brought before the court in the proceedings.

(3) If after it has been proved that any steps required by the enforcement notice have not been taken within the period allowed for compliance with the notice, the original defendant proves that the failure to take those steps was attributable, in whole or in part, to the default of the subsequent owner—

(a) the subsequent owner may be convicted of the offence, and

(b) the original defendant, if he further proves that he took all reasonable steps to secure compliance with the enforcement notice, shall be acquitted of the offence.

(4) If, after a person has been convicted under paragraphs (1) to (3), he does not as soon as practicable do everything in his power to secure compliance with the enforcement notice, he shall be guilty of a further offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding one-tenth of level 5 on the standard scale for each day following his first conviction on which any of the requirements of the enforcement notice (other than the discontinuance of a use of land) remain unfulfilled.

(5) Where, by virtue of an enforcement notice, a use of land is required to be discontinued, or any conditions or limitations are required to be complied with in respect of a use of land or in respect of the carrying out of operations thereon, then if any person uses the land or causes or permits it to be used or carries out those operations or causes or permits them to be carried out, in contravention of the notice—

(a) he shall be guilty of an offence, and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale; and

(b) if the use is continued after the conviction, he shall be guilty of a further offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding one-tenth of level 5 on the standard scale for each day on which the use is so continued.

(6) Any reference in this Article and Articles 73 and 74 to the period allowed for compliance with an enforcement notice is a reference to the period specified in the notice for compliance therewith or such extended period as may be allowed by the Department for compliance with the notice.