{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/building-act-1984/section-79",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/building-act-1984/section-79.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1984/55",
  "legislation_title": "Building Act 1984",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/building-act-1984",
  "path": "section/79",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "79",
  "heading": "Ruinous and dilapidated buildings and neglected sites.",
  "text": "(1) If it appears to a local authority that a building or structure is by reason of its ruinous or dilapidated condition seriously detrimental to the amenities of the neighbourhood, the local authority may by notice require the owner thereof—\n(a) to execute such works of repair or restoration, or\n(b) if he so elects, to take such steps for demolishing the building or structure, or any part thereof, and removing any rubbish or other material resulting from or exposed by the demolition,\nas may be necessary in the interests of amenity.\n(2) If it appears to a local authority that—\n(a) rubbish or other material resulting from, or exposed by, the demolition or collapse of a building or structure is lying on the site or on any adjoining land, and\n(b) by reason thereof the site or land is in such a condition as to be seriously detrimental to the amenities of the neighbourhood,\nthe local authority may by notice require the owner of the site or land to take such steps for removing the rubbish or material as may be necessary in the interests of amenity.\n(3) Sections 99 and 102 below apply in relation to a notice given under subsection (1) or (2) above, subject to the following modifications—\n(a) section 99(1) requires the notice to indicate the nature of the works of repair or restoration and that of the works of demolition and removal of rubbish or material, and\n(b) section 99(2) authorises the local authority to execute, subject to that subsection, at their election either the works of repair or restoration or the works of demolition and removal of rubbish or material.\n(4) This section does not apply to an advertisement as defined in section 336(1) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.\n(5) This section has effect subject to section 79A and to the provisions of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 relating to listed buildings, buildings subject to building preservation notices and buildings in conservation areas.",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words substituted by Planning (Consequential Provisions) Act 1990 (c. 11, SIF 123:1, 2), s. 4, Sch. 2 para. 67(4)(a)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "S. 79(5) inserted by Housing and Planning Act 1986 (c. 63, SIF 15), s. 40, Sch. 9 para. 6(2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Words in s. 79(5) inserted (4.11.2024) by Historic Environment (Wales) Act 2023 (asc 3), s. 212(2), Sch. 13 para. 64 (with Sch. 14 paras. 1-3); S.I. 2024/860, art. 3(d)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "Words substituted by Planning (Consequential Provisions) Act 1990 (c. 11, SIF 123:1, 2), s. 4, Sch. 2 para. 67(4)(b)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C1",
      "text": "S. 79 applied (with modifications) (7.8.1991) by S.I. 1991/1773, art. 8(2)(3), Sch. 2; s. 79 applied (with modifications) (10.1.1992) by S.I. 1991/2913, art. 8(2)(3), Sch. 2; and s. 79 excluded (20.9.2000) by London Local Authorities Act 2000 (c. vii), ss. 1(1), 45(4)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C2",
      "text": "S. 79: certain functions transferred (7.8.1991) by S.I. 1991/1773, art. 8(1)(3), Sch. 2; and certain functions transferred (10.1.1992) by S.I. 1991/2913, art. 8(1)(3), Sch. 2"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [
    {
      "type": "words inserted",
      "affecting": "asc/2026/7",
      "affecting_title": "Planning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Act 2026"
    }
  ],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1984/55/section/79",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T10:01:04.213182+00:00",
    "licence": "OGL-UK-3.0",
    "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
    "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
  }
}