The developers who knocked over Carlton's Corkman Irish Pub have had charges laid against them in the Melbourne Magistrates Court by the state government's building authority and the city council.

On Friday morning, the Victorian Building Authority and Melbourne City Council laid 16 charges against Stefce Kutlesovski, Raman Shaqiri and their company 160 Leicester Pty Ltd.

If the maximum penalties possible were applied against the pair and their company, they would face fines approaching $2 million.

Mr Kutlesovski and Mr Shaqiri knocked over the 159-year-old pub in October without a demolition permit. The historic pub was within a heritage overlay area.