May 31st, 2022 at 12:49 pm

STEP BY STEP PROCESS TO OBTAIN BUILDING PERMIT

The aim of this article will take you through the various steps involved in obtaining Building Permit.

• To begin with, one can obtain a document(s) by showing evidence of land/plot ownership(in your name)
• Secondly, one must prepare 4-copies of each of the Site Plan to cover your plot(land) in your name (make sure it conforms with the scheme of the area – check from the Physical Planning department of the Assembly).
• Also, one must prepare 4-copies each of architectural drawings (plans, elevations, sections etc) of the building you intend to put up, making sure they conform to the requirements of the L.I.1630 (National Building Regulation 1996)

Additional Document Required

Depending on the type and location of the project, you may need to get any or all the FF in addition:

• Fire permit
• EPA
• Traffic impact assessment
• Geotechnical assessment
• Structural drawings, etc.

Moreover, one must obtain and complete the PERMIT APPLICATION FORM from the Assembly that has jurisdiction over the area your land/plot is located.

Besides that, one must submit the completed application form together with all the documents mentioned above to the Assembly (you may be asked to pay the submission and processing fee as per the fee fixing resolution of the particular Assembly).

Hence, the Assembly should take a maximum of 30-days to process your application and issue you with Building Permit. You may be asked to pay for the Permit fee (development levy) based on the value of the proposed project and also based on the fee fixing resolution of the Assembly.

However, please take note that most delays are due to ingenuity of documents submitted and in most cases, the documents required not provided.

For instance, a search result showing ownership of land is in the name of Mr. D. S. Wonder but the application for the Permit is in the name of Mr. Davor Wonder, with no letter of transfer from Mr. D. S. Wonder to Mr. Davor Wonder, and no affidavit showing the names refer to the same person.

It is expected that the New Ghana Building Regulations currently in parliament would help to reduce delays in obtaining Permit when it is passed.

Ready for further clarifications if required

WRITTEN BY

Engineer Davor Wonder
(F.PE 0035 – IET-Ghana)