Dealing with Construction Permits in
Botswana
Listed below is detailed summary of the procedures, time and costs to build a warehouse —including obtaining necessary licenses and permits, completing required notifications and inspections and obtaining utility connections.
The information appearing on this page was collected as part of the Doing Business project, which measures and compares regulations relevant to the life cycle of a small- to medium-sized domestic business in 183 economies. The most recent round of data collection for the project was completed in June 2011.
-
Building a warehouse
-
Estimated Warehouse Value:
BWP 2,602,000
- City: Gaborone
| No. |
Procedure |
Time to Complete |
Associated Costs |
| * 1 |
Receive technical inspection from the municipal Department for Spatial Planning, Urbanism and Communal Matters
Agency: Department of Surveys and Maps
|
1 day
|
BWP 2
|
| 2 |
Register the building into cadastre books at the municipal Cadastre Department
The rates certificate verifies BuildCo's tax payment status.
Agency: Gaborone City Council
|
1 day
|
BWP 1
|
| 3 |
Register the building into land registry books with the Land Registry Department at the District Court Sarajevo
New regulations introduced in 2005 require the submission of an environmental management plan before an environmental impact assessment is obtained.
|
90 days
|
BWP 50,000
|
| * 4 |
Obtain an environmental impact assessment
An environmental impact assessment is mandatory for every building. It is normally conducted by an independent company before site construction (i.e., during the site analysis phase). To assist with plan designs, BuildCo would have to obtain the following documents:
- Development Control Code 1995.
- Building Control Act and Regulations, which regulates the nature of structures erected.
- Urban Development Standards, guidelines set by the Ministry of Local Government Lands and Housing.
- Factories Act, which sets health and safety regulations.
- Town and Country Planning Act, which regulates use and development of land.
- Public Health Act, which regulates sanitation and housing.
Agency: Independent Company
|
60 days
|
BWP 39,000
|
| 5 |
Submit permit application at Gaborone City Council
Agency: Gaborone City Council
|
1 day
|
no charge
|
| 6 |
Receive inspection from the Gaborone City Council
Agency: Gaborone City Council
|
1 day
|
no charge
|
| 7 |
Obtain planning and building permit from the Gaborone City Council
Gaborone City Council approval is required to obtain a planning and building permit. The council examines the drawings and pays a site visit to ensure compliance with regulations and restrictions on health, sewer, fire, building, and planning. For any construction over 1,000 sq. m., the City Council forwards the filed documents for the approval of the Department of Town and Regional Planning (DTRP). Thus, BuildCo never enters into direct contact with the department.
Note that a certified copy of the title deed is required. There are no restrictions on how recent the copy of the deed should be.
Agency: Gaborone City Council
|
30 days
|
BWP 4,000
|
| 8 |
Apply for sewage connection
Before construction starts, the City Council must approve the sewage connection. The connection fee has increased to BWP 5,000.
Agency: Gaborone City Council
|
1 day
|
BWP 5,000
|
| 9 |
Receive on-site inspection
Agency: Gaborone City Council
|
1 day
|
no charge
|
| 10 |
Receive inspection from Gaborone City Council of the start of excavation work
This inspection is conducted after the completion of every stage of construction. It is unadvisable to perform construction without inspections; builders run the risk of being ordered to demolish a defective structure.
Agency: Gaborone City Council
|
1 day
|
no charge
|
| 11 |
Receive labor inspection
The Department of Labor Conducts ongoing inspections to check the site workers’ work permit documentation to ensure they are not undocumented illegal immigrants. Construction must stop if the sanitary or safety standards are below requirements, and if illegal workers are found on site.
Agency: Department of Labor
|
1 day
|
no charge
|
| 12 |
Receive labor inspection
The Department of Labor Conducts ongoing inspections to check the site workers’ work permit documentation to ensure they are not undocumented illegal immigrants. Construction must stop if the sanitary or safety standards are below requirements, and if illegal workers are found on site.
Agency: Department of Labor
|
1 day
|
no charge
|
| 13 |
Receive labor inspection
The Department of Labor Conducts ongoing inspections to check the site workers’ work permit documentation to ensure they are not undocumented illegal immigrants. Construction must stop if the sanitary or safety standards are below requirements, and if illegal workers are found on site.
Agency: Department of Labor
|
1 day
|
no charge
|
| 14 |
Receive inspection from City Council of the start of foundation work
Agency: Gaborone City Council
|
1 day
|
no charge
|
| 15 |
Receive inspection from City Council of the start of concrete work
Agency: Gaborone City Council
|
1 day
|
no charge
|
| 16 |
Receive inspection from City Council of the start of slabs and damp-proof course
Agency: Gaborone City Council
|
1 day
|
no charge
|
| 17 |
Receive inspection from City Council of the setup of structure
Agency: Gaborone City Council
|
1 day
|
no charge
|
| 18 |
Notify the City Council of the practical completion of the building
Agency: Gaborone City Council
|
1 day
|
no charge
|
| 19 |
Receive on-site inspection
Agency: Gaborone City Council
|
1 day
|
no charge
|
| 20 |
Obtain water connection with Water Utilities Corporation
Agency: Water Utilities Corporation
|
7 days
|
BWP 2,500
|
| * 21 |
Obtain telephone connection
Agency: Botswana Telecommunications Corporation
|
7 days
|
BWP 2,500
|
| 22 |
Obtain occupation permit
This document allows BuildCo to occupy the building on completion.
Agency: Gaborone City Council
|
1 day
|
no charge
|
* Takes place simultaneously with another procedure.