Obtain tax clearance from the Tax Authority
Agency: Tax Authority
Time and cost: 7 days, ILS 20
Obtain tax clearance from the Municipality
Agency: Finance department of the Municipality
The applicant must first obtain the clearance from the tax authority, prior to requesting the clearance from the Financial department of the Municipality
Time and cost: 2 days, USD 42
Obtain site map from municipality
Agency: Municipality
BuildCo must obtain a location map from the municipality to check that the proposed constructions project is allowed on this land. The location map will also describe the setbacks and will identify guidelines for construction such as the percentage of the land BuildCo may build on, height limitations, etc.
Time and cost: 3 days, ILS 154
Obtain survey map from a licensed surveyor
Agency: Licensed Surveyor
The survey map is usually at a scale of 1:500 or 1:250 and shows, in addition to the boundaries, the levels and/ or contour lines, the site, and the surroundings, including sewerage, electricity, telephone, and water connections.
Time and cost: 10 days, ILS 1,200
Obtain geotechnical study / soil test
Agency: Private Building Laboratory
A law requiring a soil exam went into effect in 2001, but because of the economic situation, some companies do not comply with it. However, since January 2005, the Engineers Syndicate stopped approving any plan without the soil test for projects exceeding 200 sq. m. A minimum of 3 boreholes must be made on the proposed site. If the building is an extension above an existing building, a report about the state of the existing building must be submitted.
Time and cost: 14 days, ILS 7,000
Submit all building plans for review to the Engineers Association
Agency: Independent Syndicate Engineer
As required by the Engineers’ Association, BuildCo must submit the structural, mechanical, architectural and electrical plans to the Engineers Association for review. The complete set must be given, otherwise the file will be rejected for completion. Each project has to be licensed by a locally registered and licensed engineering/architecture office. The engineer who designed the plans may also be the supervisor conducting the technical inspections during construction, per the instruction of the Engineers Association. There is no requirement that it must be an independent engineer. However, if the contractor wishes to hire the Engineers Association to do the technical inspection, he/she may do so.
Time and cost: 14 days, ILS 1,951
Obtain building permit from the municipality
Agency: Municipality
To obtain a building permit from the municipality, BuildCo must submit the following documents in five copies, one copy each for the consulting office, the municipality, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, and the engineer, as well as one copy that will be returned to BuildCo:
- Land property title, including, site map, location map, city-land parcel number, and area regulations signed by a surveyor
- Documents about dimensions
- Project drawings: the proposed site plan and architectural plans, including dimensions, furniture, and reflected ceiling; and elevation, sections, and area diagrams with door and window schedules
- Structural drawings, including foundation plans, slabs, and details
- Plans for utilities, lighting, and earthling diagrams
- Mechanical plans for hot and cold water supplies, heating/cooling, ventilation, and sewerage
- Soil test
- Application form
The municipality must approve all copies mentioned above. The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities must also approve BuildCo’s set of copies, as do the utility companies.
Time and cost: 21 days, USD 19,172
Obtain the civil defense clearance
Agency: Civil Defense
As of 2014, the Municipality now requests the civil defense clearance on behalf of the applicant as part of the building permit application. In practice the applicant must obtain this clearance.
Time and cost: 10 days, ILS 1,561
Receive site inspection by the Ministry of Antiquities
Agency: Ministry of Antiquities
While the municipality is still processing the building permit application, an agent will conduct a site visit to check that there are no artifacts on the land.
Time and cost: 7 days, USD 42
Obtain an excavation permit
Agency: Engineers Association
The contractor (usually the engineer who designed the structural plans) will provide the following documents to the Engineers Association for verification and approval:
- Lab reports
- Name of site engineer
- Supervision contract
- Plans of excavation
Once the engineers have verified that all documentations are accurate, the chief engineer will sign on the document granting permission to proceed with the excavation (for such a warehouse, the excavation will probably be about 3 meters and the foundation will be around 80 cm).
Time and cost: 2 days, no charge
Notify the Municipality of Commencement of construction
Agency: Municipality of Ramallah
The contractor will inform the Municipality of the start of construction so that the Municipality can verify the foundation once it has started.
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Receive foundation boundaries inspection
Agency: Municipality
During construction the municipality randomly inspects the excavation work to ensure it complies with the building laws and regulations. The Syndicate Engineer however is the one responsible for inspecting the construction work as it relates to the engineering. Any building over 600 sq. m. must have a supervising engineer on site at all times.
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Submit concrete casting permit to Engineers Association for stamping
Agency: Engineers Syndicate
As of 2014, the Engineers Syndicate now directly emails the stamped concrete casting permit to the Municipality. Therefore, BuildCo would no longer need to visit the Municipality in person to submit this permit.
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Request and receive final inspection from Municipality
Agency: Municipality
BuildCo must request and receive the final inspection from the Municipality in order to obtain the certificate of completion
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Receive final inspection from Civil Defense
Agency: Civil Defense
BuildCo will receive a final inspection from the Civil Defense to ensure the construction is compliant with the approved plans
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Receive completion certificate from Civil Defense
Agency: Civil Defense
After inspecting the building, the Civil Defense will issue a completion certificate.
Time and cost: 14 days, no charge
Receive completion certificate from Municipality
Agency: Municipality
The Municipality will issue a completion certificate if the construction was done according to the approved plans.
Time and cost: 7 days, no charge
Submit municipal letters of approval to Water and Sewage Company (GEKA) and request an appointment for inspection
Agency: Water and Sewage Company (GEKA)
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Receive water and sewage inspection
Agency: Water and Sewage Company (GEKA)
After submitting the request for water and sewage connection, BuildCo will receive an inspection from GEKA to estimate the cost of the connection
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Obtain water and sewage connection
Agency: Water and Sewage Company (GEKA)
Time and cost: 14 days, ILS 3,500
