Conduct soil test with private laboratory
Agency: Private Laboratory
The soil test is no longer required to be submitted as part of the building permit application, however it must be submitted within three months of obtaining the permit and before starting the construction. In practice this is done early in the process as the soil test is required to design the foundation of the building.
Time and cost: 7 days, KWD 200
Submit drawings and receive certificate from the Public Authority for Industry (PAI)
Agency: Public Authority for Industry (PAI)
Since the warehouse will be used for storage, BuildCo must submit the project drawings to the Public Authority for Industry (PAI) using the online system. PAI will then review the drawings and issue an approval certificate. Submission of drawings to PAI is required for any construction that will be used for storage or industrial activities.
A copy of the government’s lease agreement is needed.
Time and cost: 14 days, no charge
Obtain lot plan with site map from the Municipal Authority
Agency: Municipality of Kuwait
BuildCo must obtain lot plan and the site map which determine the zoning of the plot. The request is done physically at the Urban Planning Department (UPD) of the Kuwait Municipality. This involves designating permitted uses of land based on mapped zones which separate one set of land uses from another (e.g. residential, industrial, recreational, etc).
Once an area has been “zoned” (e.g. for industrial use), the location of an actual project / industry within the zone has to be approved by the Municipality.
The documents that need to be submitted include:
- Area plans
- Level plans
- Sector plans
- Floor plans
- Boundaries
- Sanitary certificate
- Contract with the client
- Civil IDs
- Land deed
- Electrical drawings
- Mechanical drawings
- Fire safety drawings
- Master plan approval
- Architectural drawings
If a change needs to be made, the process has to be started from the beginning.
Time and cost: 7 days, KWD 5
Request and obtain electricity and water plans approval from Ministry of Electricity and Water
Agency: Ministry of Electricity and Water
According to No. 30/2012 issued by Kuwait Municipality on August 2012, the building permit will not be granted unless the Ministry of Electricity and Water (MEW) gives its approval on the electric supply. A site inspection must be conducted before the approval can be issued.
MEW is understaffed and therefore, it can take anywhere from 1 week to 1 month for the site inspection to happen. Approval of the plans can take 1-2 months after the inspection takes place.
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Request sewage plans approval (sanitary certificate) from Ministry of Public Works
Agency: Ministry of Public Works
BuildCo must request approval of sewage plans from the Ministry of Public Works. Upon approval, the Ministry will issue a sanitary certificate. A site inspection must be conducted before the certificate is issued.
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Receive sewage inspection from Ministry of Public Works
Agency: Ministry of Public Works
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Obtain approval of plans from Kuwait Fire Services Directorate
Agency: Kuwait Fire Services Directorate
BuildCo submits the following documents online for approval:
- Architectural design
- Ventilation design
- Elevators design
- Hazard sector plans
- Alarm system plans
Time and cost: 37 days, KWD 100
Obtain sewage plans approval from Ministry of Public Works
Agency: Ministry of Public Works
Time and cost: 7 days, no charge
Request and obtain building permit
Agency: Municipality of Kuwait
The initial packet of documents needs to be submitted electronically to the Municipality. Most of the documents are submitted as scanned copies. The website for submission is:
www.baladiya.gov.kw
BuildCo must submit Application Form 1 for a building license and attach the following documents (including the documents described in the procedures above):
- A copy of the deed of title to the land, allocation decree, or lease agreement. In the case of an allocation decree or lease agreement, a recent rent receipt must be submitted.
- A copy of the architectural contract between BuildCo and an accredited engineering firm responsible for the architecture of the building
- Scanned letter of the zoning approval
- Original soil test report
- Approval from the Fire and Safety Department
- Approval from the Roads Department, if underground parking is included (which does not apply to the warehouse project)
- Scanned Form 2, Undertaking of compliance of the plans with the buildings codes and cadastres, which should be signed and submitted (by an engineering firm)
- Scanned Form 3, Undertaking of compliance with the construction plans, which should be signed and submitted (by an engineering firm)
- Civil ID of the owner
- Undertaking to provide specific plans (done by an engineering firm) that meet the requirements of:
- The Ministry of Electricity and Energy for the electric supply.
- The Ministry of Public Works for the sewerage system.
These documents are scanned and uploaded electronically.
Once approved, the private engineer receives a notification that the building permit is approved.
Time and cost: 7 days, KWD 200
Hire an external firm/engineer to supervise construction
Agency: Private Firm
Time and cost: 1 day, KWD 30,000
Submit site take-over letter (supervision commitment license)
Agency: Municipality of Kuwait
BuildCo submits online a site take-over letter and attach the following documents:
- A copy of the construction license
- An undertaking from BuildCo that it shall carry out the construction work on the warehouse or, alternatively, that it has a construction contract with a contractor. In case of a construction contract with a contractor, a copy of the performance bond should be submitted.
- An undertaking from an accredited supervising engineer to supervise the construction approved by the municipality.
Time and cost: 0.5 days, KWD 16
Submit final report and the file of cadastral measure of the structure to the Municipality for approval
Agency: Municipality of Kuwait
BuildCo prepares the end of supervision commitment report with the supervising engineer’s signature and the file of cadastral measure of the structure and submits them to Kuwait Municipality. The file will be reviewed by the Engineering Supervisor (an employee of the Kuwait Municipality) to ensure it contains all the required documentation and information. The file can be submitted online.
Kuwait Municipality will then conduct a final inspection to ensure that the construction has been carried out to the necessary specifications (as per the building plans submitted and approved) and complies with the relevant constructions regulations entirely.
Once the Kuwait Municipality is satisfied with the information and documentation concerning the building’s specifications and construction works, it will grant the necessary approvals.
Time and cost: 0.5 days, KWD 10
Receive final inspection from the Municipality
Agency: Municipality of Kuwait
The municipality inspects the buildings to ensure compliance with the drawings.
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Receive final approval certificate from Municipality
Agency: Municipality of Kuwait
Once the final inspection is carried out, BuildCo typically receives the final approval certificate from the Municipality within a week. The Municipality then forwards the certificate of no objection to the Ministry of Electricity and Water, the Kuwait Fire Services Directorate and the Ministry of Public Works.
Time and cost: 10 days, no charge
Receive inspection from the Kuwait Fire and Safety Department
Agency: Kuwait Fire and Safety Department
Upon conducting a final inspection, the Kuwait Fire and Safety Department will issue a certificate of fire and panic safety.
Time and cost: 1 day, KWD 5
Obtain certificate of fire and panic safety from the Kuwait Fire and Safety Department
Agency: Kuwait Fire and Safety Department
After the inspection from KFSD is done and the building deemed compliant, BuildCo receives the Certificate of Fire and Panic.
Time and cost: 7 days, no charge
Obtain water connection
Agency: Ministry of Electricity and Water
After the final approval certificate is issued, the Kuwait Municipality sends a letter to the Ministry of Electricity and Water to do the water connection.
Time and cost: 7 days, KWD 750
Obtain sewage connection
Agency: Ministry of Public Works
After the final approval certificate is issued, the Kuwait Municipality sends a letter to the Ministry of Public Works to do the sewage connection.
Time and cost: 7 days, KWD 750
Obtain commercial license from Ministry of Commerce
Agency: Ministry of Commerce
BuildCo must obtain a commercial license from the Ministry of Commerce certifying that building is for commercial use. Without this license, the warehouse cannot become operational.
Time and cost: 7 days, no charge
