Obtain results of geotechnical study / soil test
Agency: National Laboratory for Civil Engineering – Ministry of Public Works
BuildCo will request a soil test for the structural calculations for the foundation. Contractors ask for a soil test to ensure that the foundation of the building is solid. The engineer must understand the suitability of the soil for the proposed construction work. It allows to build a solid foundation and avoid structures to be damaged or collapsed or leaned. Although a soil test is not required by law, it is consistently conducted in practice.
Time and cost: 20 days, XOF 524,766
Submit plans to Municipality and obtain approval
Agency: Municipality
BuildCo must submit the architectural, structural, and sanitary plans, along with a liability statement from the architect who produced the plans and a request from the landowner. The City Council meets every week to approve the plans. However, due to a backlog it takes on average 45 days for approval. For the plans to be approved, BuildCo must continuously follow up on the status of the process with the Municipality. The Plan Approval Commission meets every Friday. The Commission may revise the plans (especially the structural plan), but the plans hardly ever need to be resubmitted.
In the pre-approval stage, it is not required to submit approved technical conditions from the water and sewerage, telephone, and electricity services to the Municipality.
After the plans are approved, BuildCo must pay for the issuance of the building permit. The approval is done in the previous procedure. Therefore it does not take more than a day.
The company can request a permit for 3 months, 6 months, or 1 year. It is cheaper to request a 3-month permit and request renewals. The cost of the license depends on the construction duration, area, and perimeter.
As soon BuildCo obtains the building permit, construction can start without any notification from the authorities.
Time and cost: 45 days, XOF 260,150
Receive inspection from Municipality – I
Agency: Municipality
The Municipality establishes the land boundaries at the beginning of construction. It is normal for the municipal inspector to visit the site to check whether there is a building permit and whether acceptable construction practices are being followed. On average, the company should expect three inspections during the whole cycle. No prior request is required.
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Receive inspection from Municipality – II
Agency: Municipality
The second inspection carried out by the Municipality. It can be carried out anytime during the construction phase.
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Receive inspection from Municipality – III
Agency: Municipality
The third inspection carried out by the Municipality. It can be carried out anytime during the construction phase.
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Build and install the septic tank
Agency: Private company
The sewage system in Guinea-Bissau is not working therefore a septic tank has to be built and will be installed by the construction company
Time and cost: 7 days, XOF 2,000,000
Request and obtain approval of water plans from EAGB
Agency: EAGB
The full process from obtaining approval of the plans (both for water and electricity) until the connection is completed takes 2 – 3 weeks if BuildCo follows up consistently. Otherwise it takes 1 – 1.5 months. The approvals for water and electricity connection can be requested simultaneously, but they are processed by different institutions: the State Secretariat of Energy for Electricity and the EAGB for water. The applications for water and electricity are both submitted to the EAGB. There are inspections for both water and electricity.
Time and cost: 5 days, XOF 47,000
Receive water inspection from EAGB
Agency: EAGB
Once the water request EAGB has been done, BuildCo. receives an inspection in order to assess the conditions for water connection.
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Connect to water services from EAGB
Agency: EAGB
On average, three weeks after the inspection has been conducted, BuildCo. receives a water connection from the utility company.
Time and cost: 24 days, XOF 375,000
Request the occupancy permit
Agency: Municipality
For BuildCo to obtain an occupancy permit, the law requires the Municipality to visit the building at the end of construction to check whether it was built according to plan. It will then issue an occupancy permit.
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Receive inspection for the occupancy permit
Agency: Municipality
Upon request to the Municipality, BuildCo. receives an inspection in order to assess the conditions to obtain the occupancy permit.
Time and cost: 7 days, no charge
Obtain occupancy permit
Agency: Section of Vistory and Technical Fiscalization
After the inspection has been conducted, BuildCo. receives the occupancy permit.
Time and cost: 1 day, XOF 650,300
Register new building with the Land Registry
Agency: Land Registry
With the occupancy permit BuildCo. can register the new warehouse in the Land Registry.
Time and cost: 30 days, XOF 1,303,352
