Obtain certified copy of property title from the Ministry of Lands
Agency: Ministry of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection
A certified copy of the property title must be obtained from the Ministry of Lands. They will stamp the copy upon receipt to indicate that it is a true copy.
Time and cost: 90 days, ZMW 150
Obtain building permit from the Municipal Authority (City Development Department)
Agency: Lusaka City Council
The approval permit is valid for 6 months and may be extended for another 6 months. The following documents are required to obtain a building permit:
- 4 copies of technical drawings which include:
- Floor plan
- Foundation plan
- Elevations
- Roof Plan
- Door and window schedule
- Site plan
- Block Plan
- Cross section
- Structural drawing for multi-story structures
- Certified copy of ownership of the plot
- Complete application form
- Copy of receipts for scrutiny and stage inspection fees
The pertinent project documents are circulated for clearance and approval among the following departments:
- Fire Department
- Environmental Council
- Health Department
- Water Authority
The application for a building permit is scrutinized by all departments of the local authority noted above. The procedure includes inspections. Approximately once a month, the different agencies meet to approve the permits. The statutory time limit for approval of a building permit is 90 days, after which, legally, the company only has to notify the municipality and start construction. Most of the permits are granted on the first application. The payment is KR 3.33 per square meter, assuming the warehouse is considered a ‘light construction.’
All inspections mentioned are required by the General Authorities Bylaws to take place on the site. In practice, however, most are done administratively. The only departments that might go on site are the Environmental Council and, to a lesser degree, the Sewerage Department. More often than not, these departments do not check the site because they already know where it is located and what it is equipped with. If the Environmental Council ever inspects the site, it would not need to notify the constructor unless it needed to resolve some issues with BuildCo present.
Time and cost: 60 days, ZMW 4,331
Submit Project Brief and receive approval from the Environmental Council
Agency: Zambia Environmental Management Agency
A Project Brief (12 copies) must be submitted to the Environmental Council. The brief must specify the noise levels, heat, radioactivity, emissions, and environmental effects (Environmental and Pollution Act CAP 204). For a simple warehouse project, the report can be prepared in-house.
Time and cost: 55 days, ZMW 13,000
Inform the Local Authority of the beginning of construction and receive inspection of foundation works
Agency: Engineering Department of the Local Authority
The Council has introduced an inspection fee through the Engineering Department. This covers transportation for inspectors. The inspection usually takes place within 1 — 2 hours. This is a one-off payment and covers all inspections.
Time and cost: 1 day, ZMW 200
Request and receive inspection of concrete works
Agency: Engineering Department of the Local Authority
Although there is no additional charge, the transport costs of the Engineering Department are usually provided by the builder. The inspection involves quality checks of materials and procedures (1 – 2 hours).
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Request opinions on project completion (final inspection)
Agency: Fire Department, Public Health Department and Building Inspectorate
There is one joint inspection by the Fire Department, Public Health Department and Building Inspectorate. This final joint inspection is done as a prerequisite to obtaining the occupancy permit. BuildCo must inform the Building Inspectorate of the completion of the construction and they organize the joint inspection. Sometimes this requires significant follow up but generally it takes 1 week to organize and the inspection itself is done in 1 day. If the final inspection goes well (the building is built according to design, safety of building is according to standards etc.), the Public Health Department will then issue the occupancy permit.
Time and cost: 7 days, no charge
Obtain completion certificate / occupancy permit
Agency: Public Health Department
Time and cost: 21 days, no charge
Request water and sewerage services and inspection
Agency: Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company Limited
In order to obtain a new connection, the developer fills out the Water and Sewer connection application forms at any of the Customer Service Centers and attach a survey diagram. After review and site inspection, a quotation is provided to the developer.
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Receive site inspection by the water authority
Agency: Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company Limited
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Obtain water and sewerage connection
Agency: Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company Limited
For commercial customers, an account opening form is obtained from any customer service center and copy of Title deed or proof of Ownership and copy of Certificate of Incorporation (if applicable) is attached, and submitted to Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company Ltd.
Time and cost: 7 days, ZMW 500
