Obtain a site-plan map from the Municipal Building Authorities
Agency: Municipal Building Authorities
A copy of the map that is 1:500 is required to be submitted with the building permit, and is helpful for other pre-approvals. This can be done online, and a PDF can be immediately obtained.
Time and cost: 0.5 days, NOK 500
Hold advance conference with the Municipal Building Authorities
Agency: Municipal Building Authorities
The advance conference is optional, but is often necessary in order to clarify the prerequisites for the project, such as infrastructure, various laws and regulations, and coordination and the approvals from other authorities. The time to complete this procedure may vary. In Oslo, the normal waiting time is approximately 2 weeks. These conferences are not binding for the final result of the approval process.
Time and cost: 14 days, no charge
Obtain approval of the Health Authorities
Agency: Health and Safety Authority
Generally, the building permit is not issued if BuildCo has not obtained all necessary approvals. In such cases, the Municipal Building Authority points out the missing approvals and orders the applicant to submit them before further progress can be made.
Time and cost: 10 days, no charge
Obtain approval of the Environmental Authorities
Agency: Environmental Authorities
BuildCo must obtain the approval of the Environmental Authorities
Time and cost: 10 days, no charge
Obtain approval of the Road Authorities
Agency: Road Authorities
BuildCo must obtain the approval of the Road Authorities
Time and cost: 10 days, no charge
Obtain approval from the Water and Sewage Authorities prior to construction
Agency: Water and Sewage Authorities
Approval from the electricity company is not necessary. Only an authorization for water and sewage is required.
Time and cost: 10 days, no charge
Notify all surrounding neighbors of the future construction
Agency: Neighbors
According to the Law on Construction dated June 27, 2008 (71 § 03.21), BuildCo must inform all neighbors adjacent and facing the property about the intended warehouse and where it will be built. The neighbors must either agree or disagree with this construction within 2 weeks. However, if BuildCo has obtained directly in writing from all the surrounding neighbors that they do not object to this construction, there is no waiting period of 2 weeks. The form to be used is available on the website at http://www.dibk.no/no/BYGGEREGLER/Byggesoknader/Byggesaksblanketter/
A copy of this notification must be included in the application for obtaining a building permit.
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Obtain the frame permit (first step of the building permit)
Agency: Municipal Building Authorities
The frame permit is the first step toward obtaining the building permit. It grants only the right to build the project as designed; it does not authorize construction. The permit ensures that the project meets all relevant regulations and is valid for 3 years. The application for a frame permit must contain all relevant information on the project, architectural drawings, and other requirements, according to the Planning and Building Act and other relevant regulations. The legal maximum time to complete this procedure is 84 days.
In practice, obtaining the frame permit in Oslo currently takes about 3 months. The reasons for the delayed executive work are:
- High building activity
- A corresponding increase in building applications
- A shortage of manpower in the building authorities
Time and cost: 84 days, NOK 88,010
Obtain the start-up permit and present a control registration form
Agency: Municipal Building Authorities
The start-up permit authorizes the start of construction activities. This permit contains the authorization (construction license) of the companies responsible for the coordination, design, construction, and monitoring of the project. BuildCo must in this respect either present its qualifications to the Municipal Building Authorities or present a license from the Central Register. BuildCo must also present all the consents/approvals obtained in prior procedures.
BuildCo must ensure that a construction oversight plan is drawn up. Such a plan should be included in the application or be submitted while the application for a start-up permit is being reviewed at the latest. The construction may be monitored by means of documented self-inspections or by an independent enterprise. The developer, the applicant, the designer, and the contractor in charge must provide the information necessary to monitor the construction. The latter is normally executed through self-inspection. The legal maximum time to complete this stage is 84 days. Obtaining a start-up permit in Oslo currently takes 3 weeks on average.
Time and cost: 21 days, no charge
Apply and obtain a certificate of completion from the Municipal Building Authorities
Agency: Municipal Building Authorities
BuildCo must obtain an approval from the Municipality upon completion of the project. The supervising agency/applicant must send a completion report and a request for a certificate of completion form. This report must state that the building was built according to the approved plans and that there are no major works to be completed or that any reserves on any part of the building.
If the final approval is not issued within the deadline, the silence-is-consent rule is applied and the building may be used.
Chapter 21 – Article 21-10 – Building Act
Time and cost: 10 days, no charge
Obtain water and sewage connection
Agency: Water and Sewage Authorities
The Water and Sewage Authorities must be present when the connection is installed, and BuildCo must send a request form determining the time for the connection. Such a request must be received by the authorities at 10 a.m. (at the latest) the day before the connection is to take place. The receipt for the paid connection fee must be attached to the request form where the connection time and place are determined.
The connection fee is a nonrecurring one and covers the costs of building and maintaining the public pipelines (both water and sewage pipelines — that is, the water supply from purification plant to the consumer, and sewage transport from the consumer to waste water plant). A reduction is given when the land plot is larger than 3,000 square meters and utilization is less than 12.5% (not applicable in the Doing Business case).
Time and cost: 1 day, NOK 115,521
