Spatial Planning and Building Inspectorate

Procedures for Obtaining

• Applicants are required to:
• Have a plan drawn by a qualified draughtsman or architect.
• Submit four (4) completed copies of the drawings along with a TCP1 application form available from the Town and Country Planning Division (TCPD) for the erection of a new building.
• Or where applicable
• Submit application online via the Developtt portal by filling out forms and uploading relevant documents and drawings.
• Applicants should check with the Corporation (Building Inspector’s Office) two (2) weeks after receiving a Planning Permission letter from Town and Country Planning Division to confirm receipt of application by Corporation.
• Upon receipt of the application, if there are corrections to be made to the plan, a Notice of Defects will be sent to the applicant whereby these defects will have to rectified before further processing of application.
• In cases where the area is served by a sewerage system, the applicant will be required to obtain a licensed plumber to produce the isometric (plumbing) drawings and have them submitted and approved by the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA)
• In cases where the approvals from the Chief Fire Officer, Fire Services Division is required, drawings which indicate proposals for Fire Protection and Prevention should be submitted to the Fire Prevention Administration.
• In cases where approvals are required for Drainage, drawings of the proposed drainage system should be submitted to the Ministry of Works and Transport Drainage Division for approvals.
• In cases where the input/approval of the Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH) relevant documents should be submitted to the respective CMOH office.
• Upon obtaining relevant approvals and issuance of a Building Permit, the applicant/owner is contacted and required to produce identification when collecting approved plans or produce a permission letter inclusive of a copy of the owner/applicant ID’s
• Fees vary: Call the Municipal Corporation for information.
• Estimated Timeframe for provision of service: 2 months

Note: No construction shall be carried out without the relevant approvals from the Corporation. If any construction has started before issuance of a Building Permit, a structural integrity report will have to be submitted for all works that have been executed. In cases where no Planning Permission has been obtained from Town and Country Planning Division, the persons are advised to apply for the retention of an existing structure following the aforementioned Building Application Process.

• After the plans of the building have been approved and a Building Permit issued, the owner is required to notify the Building Inspector’s Office via submission of Form A of the date on which any work in connection with the building would commence.
• Applicants and builders are advised to take photos before all concrete pours and submit to Building Inspector’s office.
• The site will be inspected at various stages of construction, this is to ensure conformity with the approved plans.

• A complainant is required to file a complaint with the Corporation.
• A site visit would be subsequently scheduled and If any violations are observed, a Letter of Advice, Show Cause Notice and Stop Orders are duly served.
• The offender is required to reply to the Notice within the stipulated time frame
• The Council may make recommendations for corrections to the building/structure.
• The cost of the alterations will be on the owner or in cases where the Corporation removes any violations the cost will be charged to the offender.