A basic cost of PS234 is charged to determine if any proposed use of buildings or land is legal. The cost is half that of submitting a planning application for that use. PS231 (half of PS462) is the most popular for changing the use of a property or land. It can also be used for minor repairs or alterations to existing buildings. The charge for certificates of lawfulness is $15,000 ($30,000 for major projects). This includes administrative and printing costs. A copy of the decision letter is sent by post to the registered owner of the property. If you want to continue with your proposal after it has been refused, then you will need to pay an additional $15,000 fee. This covers the time taken up by officials reviewing your application and sending you a letter stating what action they have taken. Certificates of lawfulness are valid for five years. After this time has passed, you will need to renew your certificate of lawfulness to continue with your project. There is no limit on how many certificates of lawfulness can be issued per year. However, some government bodies may not accept further applications from you after a certain date each year. You should check with them first before applying for more than one certificate per year.