How to Obtain a Building Permit, Step by Step Guide
In our previous blog, we learned a number of things about building a house. Well, in our discussion, a building permit is a requirement in this process. To begin with, a building permit is an approval to undertake construction works in a particular piece of land or make modifications to an existing building.
In this article we will answer the questions;
- How you can obtain a building permit easily
- How much do building permits costs?
- Can you build without a permit?
- What you can do without a building permit
How to Obtain a Building Permit, Step by Step Guide
Get a survey plan from a surveyor
The first step is to visit a registered surveyor in your local area and get a survey plan. This is a requirement when applying for a building permit.
A survey plan is a document that measures the borderline of a piece of land to give exact dimensions and descriptions of the same.
Before the survey plan is given to you, you will provide a title deed as proof of ownership of the land you wish to develop.
Obtain a report of the project from an environment expert
Once you submit a survey plan, an environment expert will assess the project which is the house, and prepare a report
Get approval on environment impact
All construction projects undergo an environmental impact assessment to evaluate health risk factors. Once the assessment is done an approval is given.
Submission of architectural plans for approval
The engineer or contractor in charge of the building process submits the architectural drawings of the house for approval by the local government
Approval of the structural plans
From the approval of the architectural plans, the engineer or contractor submits the structural plan. A structural plan details how a building or other structure will be built.
Obtain official stamps on architectural and structural plans
Once the plans have been given a go-ahead, the architect must submit hard copies of the plans for stamping by the local county government.
Application for project registration with the Construction Authority
The contractor needs to register the proposal for the construction project with the construction authority. He or She will later fill a project registration form providing details of the construction work. Once this is done a compliance certificate will be given.
Site visits by Construction authority
Once the application has been made, there is a site inspection to check for compliance of the construction site against the plans and the environment clearance.
After this site inspection, the applicant will receive an invoice showing the amount to be paid.
Submission of payment receipt
Once the payment is done after inspection by the construction authority one obtains a compliance certificate
What Can a Homeowner Do Without a Building Permit?
There are a number of things that you can do without a building permit. They include;
- Repainting or redecorating your house
- Repaving your driveway inside your compound
- Installation of floor coverings
- Putting up a small fence round your property
However, there are some that you will need a permit. They are;
- Adding or removing walls
- Re-roofing your house
- Demolishing a portion of your house
How Much Do Building Permits Costs?
The cost of building permits varies from one local government to another. The cost also depends on the type and structure you wish to have. However, the average cost of a building permit is 240 USD per square meter
Can You Build Without a Permit?
It can be tempting to ignore the permit procedure and to hide the work you are doing, especially if it is inside the home where no one is seeing it.
However, if the local authorities find out you do not have a permit, you may need to apply for one at a higher cost. And you might even have to tear out walls or ceilings in order for inspection.
If you made any mistakes during construction, you may end up demolishing the entire structure and start over. Further, you may incur unnecessary fines for skipping this step.
There are questions that come up such as can one get a permit after work is done or how much is the fine for building without a permit. Unfortunately, you have to follow the entire procedure and get permits beforehand or else the structure may face demolition. Further, the fines depend on the local government laws which can change and force you to bring down such a structure.