Obtain a set of design requirements and conditions of development
Agency: Suva City Council
The design requirements include lodging the engineer certified structural drawings to the City or Town Council, to the National Fire Authority and to the Fiji Roads Authority (FRA). The approval must be in writing.
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Obtain project pre-approval from the National Fire Authority
Agency: National Fire Authority (NAF)
4 copies of the building structural and architectural plans must be submitted. A form is completed by the architect (download from Internet) to request the approval of the safety structure of the building. Payment is made by check, cash or direct deposit.
Once the inspection is done, the architect will collect 3 copies, all duly stamped by the NFA. 1 copy will be kept by NFA for their record.
Time and cost: 21 days, FJD 850
Obtain project pre-approval from the Department of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS)
Agency: Department of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS)
The cost is FJD 110.00 per hour of work. For the Doing Business case study, the agency would require 1 hour of work.
Time and cost: 7 days, FJD 110
Obtain project pre-approval from the Water Authority of Fiji
Agency: Water Authority of Fiji (WAF)
In order to obtain the pre-approval of the Water Authority of Fiji, the applicant must submit a V3 ‘New Connection Form’ for a commercial property along with the following documents:
- Proof of ownership.
- Sketch Map
- Copy of business/ organization T.I.N letter
- Copy of business/ organization certificate (registration).
- Copy of plumbers licenses.
- Lodgment fee
- The pre-approval is one of the requirements for the development permission from the Suva City Council.
Time and cost: 7 days, no charge
Request and obtain development permission from the Suva City Council
Agency: Suva City Council
This application, also known as the town planning form, must be accompanied by general building plans (three copies), specifications and detailed structural drawings (two copies), and the locality plan (three copies).
Time and cost: 20 days, FJD 18
Request and obtain building permit with the Suva City Council and pay building permit fee
Agency: Suva City Council
The application should be accompanied by the development permission (three copies), the locality plan (one copy), building plans (three copies), specifications (two copies), and copy of title plan. The plans are reviewed by the following Suva City Council staff: a structural engineer, civil engineer, health department, and city planner.
The fee is paid at the time of permit application and is calculated on the project value: FJD 88.00 for construction projects of up to FJD 20,000.00 plus FJD 2.20 for every FJD 1,000.00, or part of thereof, in excess of FJD 20,000.
In theory, Suva City Council carries out Procedures 3 — 5, but in most cases, to expedite the process, the applicant visits the relevant authorities in person.
Time and cost: 60 days, FJD 1,371
Submit the EIA screening application to the Department of Environment
Agency: Department of Environment
The form must have attached to it a locality plan sufficient to identify the land or premises to which the proposal relates and any other information, plans or drawings needed to describe the proposed development.
Time and cost: 7 days, FJD 250
Notify the Engineering Department of Suva City Council about completion of foundation work and receive inspection
Agency: Suva City Council (Engineering Department)
The inspection needs to be requested 1 day in advance and the inspectors come to inspect on the following day. It does not delay the construction process.
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Notify the Engineering Department about setup of the structure and receive inspection
Agency: Suva City Council (Engineering Department)
The inspection needs to be requested 1 day in advance and the inspectors come to inspect on the following day. It does not delay the construction process.
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Notify the Engineering Department about completion of the roof and receive inspection
Agency: Suva City Council (Engineering Department)
The inspection needs to be requested 1 day in advance and the inspectors come to inspect on the following day. It does not delay the construction process.
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Notify the Engineering Department about completion of the project and receive inspection
Agency: Suva City Council (Engineering Department)
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Receive final inspection from National Fire Authority
Agency: National Fire Authority (NAF)
The NFA is notified by the architect one day before the final inspection is required. Inspections are carried out on Tuesdays and Thursdays only. The NFA will issue a report that must be submitted when requesting the final inspection by the City Council. There is no cost for the final inspection. NFA will inspect the building on an annual basis.
Time and cost: 5 days, no charge
Receive final inspection from local authority and obtain occupancy permit
Agency: Local Authority
Both the Engineering and Health Department will inspect the warehouse after construction. The request is done by phone 24 hours prior to the visit. This inspection is required for the certificate of completion. Several documents must be provided in order to receive the inspection report:
- A letter from the plumber certifying that the plumbing is done in accordance with the law
- Final report from the NFA
- Letter from the architect
- Letter from the electrician
- Letter from the engineer who designed the structural plans
Time and cost: 3 days, no charge
Receive plumbing and sanitary inspection from Water Authority of Fiji (WAF)
Agency: Water Authority of Fiji (WAF)
This inspection is carried out during construction. The plumber and electrician must be present on the construction site, so that they can address any issues, if any.
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Obtain water and sewage connection from Water Authority of Fiji (WAF)
Agency: Water Authority of Fiji (WAF)
The cost cited here is for commercial real estate.
Time and cost: 30 days, FJD 446
