Hire environmental specialist to prepare environmental impact study
Agency: Environmental Specialist
Time and cost: 1 day, LSL 77,190
Obtain environmental impact assessment from the National Environment Secretariat
Agency: National Environment Secretariat
Time and cost: 25 days, no charge
Apply for and receive planning and construction permit
Agency: Maseru City Council
In August 2016, Maseru City Council launched an online platform to request the planning and construction permits online. The documents to be submitted are (i) a proof of ownership; (ii) site plan; (iii) The layout, section and elevation drawings; (iv) sanitation; (v) EIA or brief clearance; (vi) fire evacuation plan. Additional documents may be required depending if the building falls into category 1 or 2.
Payment is made in person at the Financial department and the architect must provide a proof of payment for the process to continue.
Only architects are allowed to request a building permit.
Time and cost: 95 days, LSL 24,644
Receive setting-out inspection
Agency: Municipality
A lack of resources and capacity constrains the Municipality’s ability to carry out inspections during the construction phase.
The law does not mandate inspections during construction.
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Request water and sewerage connection services
Agency: Water and Sewage Authority
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Receive on-site inspection by water and sewerage company
Agency: Water and Sewage Authority
A survey is done to establish the distance of your site from the main water and sewer lines. The survey costs M100 for both water and sewerage connection. After the survey is completed, BuildCo is given the estimates used to pay the connection fee.
Time and cost: 1 day, LSL 100
Connect to water and sewerage services
Agency: Water and Sewage Authority
During construction the company usually already has a temporary connection. BuildCo would then request a final one, in which case they would simply need the meter at the end. Temporary and final connection takes around one month.
BuildCo has to pay M4500 for water and M4560 for sewerage connection respectively.
Time and cost: 30 days, LSL 9,060
Notify Maseru City Council of completion of work and request the Occupancy Certificate
Agency: Maseru City Council
According to Article 28 of the Building Control Act of 1995, obtaining a certificate of occupancy prior to occupying any building. The owner or builder must first inform the Maseru City Council of the completion of work. 14 days after this notification, the Maseru City Council will conduct a final inspection in order to issue the certificate of occupancy.
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Receive final inspection from Maseru City Council
Agency: Maseru City Council
After completing the final inspection, the Maseru City Council issues a certificate authorizing the use of the warehouse. By law, obtaining the occupancy permit is 2 weeks (excluding the waiting time to receive the final inspection). However, the occupancy permit is practically never or rarely issued, which breeds safety concerns.
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Obtain certificate of occupancy from Maseru City Council
Agency: Maseru City Council
Time and cost: 27 days, no charge
