Obtain fire and safety report for the plans of the building
Agency: Private consultant
An engineer’s report dealing with fire safety and ventilation is required. A mechanical and electrical engineer is engaged to prepare this report which may be submitted to Planning Authority after the screening letter is issued.
Upon completion of construction, the engineer must submit a statement to Planning Authority at the end of construction stating that the building has been built according to the proper fire safety standards.
Time and cost: 7 days, EUR 450
Apply for building permit and await estimation of fees
Agency: Planning Authority
The architect to fill the online application, upload necessary drawings and documentation (including the fires and safety ventilation report) and pay an initial €50 fee (which is then deducted from the overall development planning fee). The application is reviewed by the Authority and a bill for the remainder of the development planning fee is sent electronically.
Time and cost: 15 days, EUR 50
Obtain a Permit Application Report (DPAR), attend hearing in front of the Environmental Planning Commission (EPC) and receive building permit
Agency: Planning Authority
Once payment is effected the PA publishes a notice in the government gazette and the Department of Information website, informs the relevant local council and neighbours of the site, and affixes a notice on the site. This is done so that the public is informed that an application has been received, and the public may comment within 30 days from publication in the newspaper. Persons doing so will be recognised as interested parties during the processing of the application.
At the same time the Authority will automatically consult with 11 government agencies whose input may be relevant to the application in question and these will send in their views within the above mentioned time period.
The Development Control Directorate will prepare a DPAR assessing the application, and concludes with their recommendation as to whether the application should be approved or not. If the recommendation is favourable, a draft building permit with conditions is attached to the DPAR. The DPAR also specifies the bank guarantees that may be required to obtain the permit, such as for the protection of the surrounding road surface, archaeological or environmental sensitive site (which is not the case since warehouse is to be situated next to similar development), etc.
The DPAR notice gives the date for the hearing in front of the PCDP (Planning Commission – Development Planning) which is held not later than 14 days from the conclusion of the same DPAR. The application is reviewed in a public hearing which is attended by the applicant and the Architect and Civil Engineer responsible for the application. The permit issued is valid for 5 years.
Time and cost: 60 days, EUR 19,695
Obtain approval from Building Regulation Office prior to starting construction
Agency: Building Regulation Office (BRO)
At least 2 months before BuildCo can start construction work, it must submit the following documents to the Building Regulation Office and await approval:
- Condition report of adjoining properties
- Construction method statement
- Bank guarantee of 3,000 EUR per floor
- Insurance of 500,000 EUR
Time and cost: 7 days, no charge
Submit commencement of works notice and request for official alignment
Agency: Planning Authority
The building permit issued includes a site notice which is to be affixed on the site while works are ongoing, and a commencement notice which is to be submitted to Planning Authority not less than 5 days before commencement of works. The commencement notice requires details of the contractor and site manager (including 24 hour contact details) who will be engaged on the site. When submitting the commencement notice, the Architect and Civil Engineer can indicate whether Planning Authority is required to provide official alignment on site or not. If yes, Planning Authority will provide this within 10 days.
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Request and receive initial inspection by Planning Authority for road alignments and levels
Agency: Planning Authority
Once the building permit is issued Planning Authority visits the site to provide the official road alignments and levels.
Time and cost: 10 days, no charge
Hire an agency specialized in safety
Agency: Private consultant
A specialized agency in health and safety is generally hired to be in charge of safety issues to ensure that everything is done according to regulations on the construction site. The reason for this is that the legal responsibility lies with the owner and the contractor in case of an accident. The state will initiate a lawsuit against both if there is some form of accident or complaint. Hiring a specialized agency decreases the risk of accidents or non-observance of legislation on site.
Time and cost: 1 day, EUR 1,500
Request and receive inspection from OHSA during construction works
Agency: Occupational Health and Safety Authority (OHSA)
The applicant / developer advises the OHSA with basic information regarding the construction works (i.e. presence of equipment such as cranes / scaffolding on site, as well as any specific additional details such as the requirement to close a road during works, etc). OHSA carries out random inspections during the works.
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Request and receive inspection by the local council to release bank guarantee on roads
Agency: Local Council
The local council inspects that the roads are not damaged. It is done the same day.
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Receive final inspection for road alignments and levels from Planning Authority
Agency: Planning Authority
Once construction is completed, Planning Authority must visit the site to ensure that the building was built according to the approved road alignment and levels. This is a separate inspection from the final inspection to receive a compliance certificate and is conducted by a different department within Planning Authority.
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Apply for a compliance certificate from Planning Authority
Agency: Planning Authority
The application for compliance takes the form of a declaration by the Architect and Civil Engineer that the building has been constructed in accordance with the building permit, or outlines any deviations therefrom. The Planning Authority may then inspect the site (on a random basis) to verify or issue the compliance certificate on the basis of the architect’s declaration.
Time and cost: 1 day, EUR 60
Request and receive inspection by Planning Authority for the compliance certificate
Agency: Planning Authority
An inspector from Planning Authority visits the construction to check that the construction has been completed in accordance with the approved plans.
Time and cost: 14 days, no charge
Obtain compliance certificate
Agency: Planning Authority
Once the client has received the compliance certificate, the bank guarantees are released. The compliance certificate is necessary to apply for electricity, water and sewage (but not telephone).
Time and cost: 7 days, no charge
Request and obtain water connection
Agency: ARMS Ltd
The owner of the building must provide the following documents to make a request for water and sewage connection:
- The compliance certificate issued by Planning Authority
- A recent site plan showing the extents of the property
- Color photos showing the property facades and adjacent properties
- Copy of identity card
- Company Board resolution authorizing the application
- Proof of ownership
- Completed application for a public sewer discharge permit
Time and cost: 20 days, EUR 4,090
Apply and receive a sewage connection inspection
Agency: Water Services Corporation
After 4 days of receiving an application, Water Services Corporation conducts an on-site inspection jointly with the representatives of the client to confirm presence of sewer line. Transport Malta Road Permit is usually cleared by WSC on the date of the joint site inspection.
Time and cost: 4 days, no charge
Hire a certified contractor to carry out the connection works and obtain connection to sewage
Agency: Private Licensed Expert
An application form titled “Application for a Public Sewer Discharge Permit” needs to be obtained (http://www.wsc.com.mt/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/DPU-Application_ENG-Jan-2019.pdf) ,filled in and submitted to the Water Services Corporation.
Upon approval, a private contractor registered at Transport Malta needs to be identified and engaged to perform the works and connection.The cost for such works would vary subject to the distance required to be covered to provide the connection and the private contractor’s rates and would range around € 400 to € 600 incl.18% VAT.
Time and cost: 30 days, EUR 424
