Request and obtain a soil test
Agency: Private laboratory
Based on Chapter 10 of the Norma Ecuatoriana de las Construccion Article 10.6.2, a soil test is required for the stability of the foundation.
Time and cost: 18 days, USD 1,750
Obtain a topographical map
Agency: Private Engineer
Based on Chapter 10 of the Norma Ecuatoriana de las Construccion Chapter 10: Article 10.6.3, a topographical survey is needed.
Time and cost: 6 days, USD 1,500
Obtain urban regulation report (Informe de Regulación Urbana – IRM)
Agency: Municipality of Quito (Municipio de Quito, Administración Zonal)
The Urban Regulation Report (Informe de Regulacion Urbana, IRM) is required for most procedures before the District Municipality, such as purchasing, selling, dividing, and building a property, as well as determining if the site is affected by road construction design.
Valid for 2 years, this report provides the parameters to subdivide or urbanize the following:
- Area available to construct the ground floor
- Maximum building area
- Maximum building height permitted
- Maximum number of dwelling units
- Building separation distances
- Permitted and unauthorized land use
- Basic service availability
- Manufacturing line (línea de fábrica) reference
To obtain the report, BuildCo must do the following:
- Purchase the IRM form, whose value is equivalent to 5% of the effective unified basic wage (salario básico unificado vigente) at the respective Subdivision Administration (Administración Zonal)
- Register the property’s data and enclose a copy of the property tax payment receipt
- Submit copies of the citizenship identification and of the updated voting voucher or owner’s exemption certificate
- Enclose a cartographic sheet of the Geographical Military Institute (scale, 1:5,000 or 1:25,000), showing the exact property location and the respective public deeds registered at the Property Registry
- Enclose a copy of the public writ of the estate (a request signed by the owner to guarantee the payment of water, electricity, or telephone service)
Time and cost: 15 days, USD 2
Obtain proof of compliance with contribution to Association of Architects
Agency: Association of Architects of Ecuador (Colegio de Arquitectos del Ecuador – CAE) and/or Association of Civil Engineers of Pichincha (Colegio de Ingenieros Civiles de Pichincha)
The proof of payment for the construction contribution is one of the documents required for the approval of the plans and the building permit application. The cost is 0.1% of the warehouse value.
Time and cost: 1 day, USD 309
Request and obtain permit from the Fire Department
Agency: Fire Department
Once the regulation report and the proof of compliance are granted, BuildCo. can initiate the request to obtain a fire permit form the Fire Department.
Time and cost: 15 days, USD 200
Request approval of the plans
Agency: Association of Architects of Ecuador (Colegio de Arquitectos del Ecuador – CAE) and/or Association of Civil Engineers of Pichincha (Colegio de Ingenieros Civiles de Pichincha)
To request approval of the plans, the following documents must be submitted to the Subdivision Administration (Administración Zonal):
- Plan approval form for buildings, with data record and stamps
- Metropolitan Regulation Report (Informe de Regulación Metropolitana, IRM), updated
- Two sets of architectural drawings (scale, 1:100 to 1:50), with an area map plotted on the first sheet of the project. The drawings must contain the plot area, (COS) percentage; (CUS) percentage; construction area at ground level; total building floor area; and total gross construction area, including housing area, business store and office area, parking area, community area, number of dwelling units, and number of parking lots.
- If the construction is financed with a mortgage loan, three additional sets must be attached
- Proof of payment of contribution to the Association of Architects
- Proof of payment of property tax (impuesto predial) corresponding to the current year (simple copy of receipt)
- Real estate deed or purchase option agreement duly notarized and registered at the Property Registry
- Copies of the municipal registration and professional registration identification cards
- Copy of the citizenship card and updated voting voucher or owner’s exemption certificate (Los Chillos deemed unnecessary)
- Certificates granted by the Metropolitan Water and Sewage Utility Company (EMAAP), stating utility service provision (potable water and sewage) (Los Chillos Administration)
The company may request the approval of the draft project (for consultation before final plan approval). The plans also must be approved by the Fire Department and the Associations for Architects and Engineers. The approval of the draft project is valid for 2 years and is informative in nature.
The fee is 1.5 x 1/1,000 of total project cost.
Time and cost: 20 days, USD 464
Verify structure plan with Association of Engineers
Agency: Association of Architects of Ecuador (Colegio de Arquitectos del Ecuador –CAE) and/or Association of Civil Engineers of Pichincha (Colegio de Ingenieros Civiles de Pichincha)
After BuildCo. has requested the approval of plans to the Zone Administration Authority, it can present the structural plans to the Association of Engineers or Architects.
Time and cost: 10 days, USD 309
Obtain construction guarantee and deposit it with the Municipality
Agency: Municipality of Quito (Municipio de Quito)
Proof of the guarantee deposit is a required document for the building permit application. Once the land plans have been registered for zoning and before their approval, the Municipality notifies the applicant the amount to be guaranteed (fondo de garantia). The applicant can deposit the guarantee in cash or certified check or in the form of an insurance policy. The insurance policy is purchased in 2 days from a local insurance company. The fee to purchase the guarantee depends on the value to be guaranteed.
After construction is finalized, the Municipality will return the guarantee upon inspecting the construction. The guarantee will be returned in full only if the actual construction conforms to the plans approved by the Municipality. It is assumed that the full guarantee is returned to BuildCo upon successful completion of construction. Therefore, the cost is not recorded.
However, the transaction fee for the guarantee, which amounts to 0.05% of the guarantee itself, is taken into account because it is non-refundable. The guarantee amount is determined by the Municipality and depends on the type of construction, the size, the sector, and the relevant zone. For construction under 600 sq. m., the guarantee will range between 1.5% and 3% of the warehouse value. For construction over 600 sq. m., the guarantee will be about 4% of the warehouse value.
Time and cost: 2 days, USD 6
Obtain the final building permit
Agency: Municipality of Quito/ Empresa Metropolitana de Obras Públicas (EMOP-Q)
The documents required to obtain the construction work execution clearance are the following:
- Building permit application form, with stamps and data record
- Architectural drawing approval report (original or certified copy)
- Set of approved architectural drawings (original or certified copy)
- Sets (two) of structural maps, with the professional signature registration
- Sets (two) of electrical and hydro sanitary installation plans, with the professional signature registration
- Proof of payment for building work to professional associations
- Proof of the guarantee fund deposit
- Proof of payment for plan and drawing approval
- Proof of payment to the Metropolitan Water and Sewage Utility Company (EMAAP) for service installation
- Construction statistical sheet
- Copy of municipal and professional registration cards for the builder and designer (Los Chillos)
- Copy of the citizenship card and updated voting voucher or owner’s exemption certificate
- For four stories or more, survey report for soil and subsoil of more than 2.5 mh and structural calculation report
- Proof of payment received of the corresponding property tax for the current year (La Delicia)
This procedure does not entail any charges. However, the scanner services fee is 20% of the current minimum wage for each sheet, and a form must be purchased with the required stamps. The form fee is USD 0.40, which is the same as the cost of the stamps. These fees are on a per-filing basis, and more than one filing is normally necessary.
Time and cost: 16 days, USD 595
Request and obtain second unscheduled inspection during the construction period
Agency: Municipality of Quito/ Empresa Metropolitana de Obras Públicas (EMOP-Q)
During the construction phase, BuildCo. must request and obtain the first of the two unscheduled inspections that are conducted by the Municipality
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Request and obtain intermediate inspection
Agency: Municipality of Quito/ Empresa Metropolitana de Obras Públicas (EMOP-Q)
The second inspection that BuildCo. requests during the construction phase.
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Request potable water and drainage connection
Agency: Water and Sewage Authority (Empresa Metropolitana de Alcantarillado y Agua Potable -EMAAP)
The proof of payment for service installation is one of the documents required for the approval of the layout plans and the building permit application.
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Receive water and sewage inspection
Agency: Water and Sewage Authority (Empresa Metropolitana de Alcantarillado y Agua Potable -EMAAP)
Depending on whether a meter is already available, an inspection may be conducted before BuildCo obtains its water connection. Given that the project considered here is a new construction, it is assumed that BuildCo must obtain the meter. Hence, an inspection also takes place to evaluate the cost of the new service.
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Obtain potable water and drainage connection
Agency: Water and Sewage Authority (Empresa Metropolitana de Alcantarillado y Agua Potable -EMAAP)
Once the inspection has been conducted, Buildco. is ready to have the potable water and the drainage services connections.
Time and cost: 10 days, no charge
Request and obtain final inspection
Agency: Municipality of Quito/ Unidad de Control de Edificaciones
In the meantime Buildco. can apply for and receive the final inspection.
Time and cost: 10 days, no charge
Obtain habitability permit and guarantee retrieval
Agency: Municipality of Quito (Municipio de Quito)
The habitability permit authorizes BuildCo to bring the building into service and enables retrieval of the guarantee fund. To this end, BuildCo must present the following documents at the respective Subdivision Administration (Administración Zonal):
- Inhabitability permit application form, with stamps and data record
- Approved architectural drawings (one copy)
- Plan and drawing approval report
- Building permit
- Original proof of guarantee fund receipt
- Citizenship card and updated voting voucher or owner exemption certificate (copy)
- For guarantee fund retrieval in cash, an application form must be filed with the General Financial Department (Dirección General Financiera), with the respective stamps
Time and cost: 20 days, no charge
Register the building at the Property Registry
Agency: Property Registry (Registro de la Propiedad)
It is not needed for BuildCo. to obtain the guarantee retrieval for registering the warehouse at the competent authority. Once the final inspection is conducted, BuildCo. can initiate the procedure at the Property Registry. If the value of the property exceeds the amount of USD 10,000, the builder will pay a flat fee of USD 500 (plus VAT) for property registration.
Time and cost: 14 days, USD 500
