Hire a company to prepare an Initial Environmental Evaluation (IEE)
Agency: Private Company
A certificate of environmental compliance always has to be obtained but the procedure differs significantly depending on the category the construction falls in. There are 3 categories: the first one is usually for residential buildings, the third one is for larger projects with 10 plots or more. Everything else falls into category 2. A warehouse will most likely be considered in the 2nd category.
In this case, BuildCo must hire a company to prepare an Initial Environmental Evaluation (IEE).
Time and cost: 21 days, SZL 5,000
Register project with Construction Industry Council and obtain levy clearance certificate
Agency: Construction Industry Council
As per the Construction Industry Levy Regulations, 2016, all construction projects need to registered with the Construction Industry Council and a levy paid which is calculated according to the project cost. The Main Contractor or Project Owner shall be issued with an Original Stamped CIC Levy Proforma Invoice upon submission of this application form. The Main Contractor shall make use of the Original Stamped CIC Levy Proforma Invoice to claim the Levy from the Project Owner and forward it to the CIC. A receipt will be issued in respect of payment made and a levy clearance certificate shall be issued only upon clearance of the total amount of levy payable on the total cost of the project.
Contractors are required to submit this Form with copies of either of the following where applicable:
- Contract Bill of Quantities (Summary Page)
- Letter of Award from Owner of Project
- Tender Sanction or Works Order
- Signed Contract showing project cost and parties to the contract or signed form of tender.
Time and cost: 7 days, SZL 27,313
Request and obtain certificate of environmental compliance
Agency: Swazi Environmental Authority
As a next step, the assessment is submitted to the Swaziland Environmental Authority (SEA) for review. The submission costs SZL 1,580.00 and an additional SZL 500.00 for resubmissions. Resubmissions seem to always be requested. The SEA takes about 6 weeks on average for the review. For category 3 cases, the SEA might even request to put the plans up for public review, meaning the plans must be advertised in the local newspaper. The notification must be advertised for 3 weeks and then another 3 weeks are granted to the public for reaction. Afterwards, the SEA takes another week to collate the comments, address them and issue the certificate of environmental compliance.
Time and cost: 42 days, SZL 2,080
Submit plans to Municipality and obtain approval
Agency: Municipality
BuildCo submits the title deed to the Municipality, along with four copies of the draft project, a three-page form, zoning information, and plot ratio. It takes about 6 weeks on average to get the plans approved and receive the building permit.
The fee is 1% of the construction cost, plus SZL 10.00 for the submission fee.
Time and cost: 42 days, SZL 27,323
Receive foundations inspection
Agency: Municipality
The municipality is supposed to carry out several inspections during construction and issue a certificate or report.
A book is available with all the certificates that the inspector must sign after completing an inspection. The common stages when inspections are conducted are foundations, reinforce slab, and cast concrete, as well as a final inspection.
Notification is normally done over the telephone. The waiting time is about 2 days. The cost per inspection is the 1/1000 of the building cost multiplied by 2, but cannot be less than SZL 226.00.
For residential projects, the cost would be 1/1000 of the building cost multiplied by 1.5, to a maximum value of SZL 1505.00 and a minimum value of SZL 161.00.
The cost for all four inspections is paid at the time of the first inspection.
Time and cost: 1 day, SZL 21,851
Receive reinforced slab inspection
Agency: Municipality
The waiting time is about 2 days.
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Receive cast concrete inspection
Agency: Municipality
The waiting time is about 2 days.
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Request water connection
Agency: Swaziland Water Services Corporation (SWSC)
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Receive water inspection
Agency: Swaziland Water Services Corporation (SWSC)
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Obtain water connection
Agency: Swaziland Water Services Corporation (SWSC)
To obtain a commercial water connection, the following documents needs to be submitted:
- Copy of Director`s national ID
- Copy of Lease agreement
- Company Trading License
- Company Stamp
Time and cost: 29 days, SZL 8,000
Request certificate of occupancy
Agency: Municipality
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Receive fire safety inspection
Agency: Swaziland Fire Services
Swaziland Fire Services conducts an inspection before the municipality, and submits an approval or a report of issues to be fixed.
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Receive final inspection
Agency: Municipality
The average waiting time is 2 days.
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Obtain certificate of occupancy
Agency: Municipality
At the end of construction, an occupation certificate is issued by the municipality. The cost is included in the application for a building permit (as for all the other procedures done by the municipality).
A final inspection before the certificate is issued determines whether any changes have been made.
Time and cost: 15 days, no charge
