Dealing with Construction Permits in
Burundi
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:
BIF 715,330,000
- City: Bujumbura
| No. |
Procedure |
Time to Complete |
Associated Costs |
| 1 |
Perform a geotechnical study
A quote for a the geotechnical study for a warehouse like that built by BuildCo requires a established number of holes, plus a soil sample that needs to be analyzed. Additionally, the LNBTP estimates and includes the cost of transportation for the professionals involve in the study.
Agency: National Laboratory for Building Construction and Public Works (Laboratoire National Du Bâtiment et des Travaux Publics)
|
14 days
|
BIF 2,574,460
|
| 2 |
Obtain a file number at the Service des Conseillers , DGHU
The owner (or the person/company representing the owner) will obtain a file number from the technical office of the DHGU (6th floor, office 610). With this number the person will bring the entire file to the “Service d’Hygiene” for approval
To obtain an identification number, BuildCo’s file should include
- Land registry entry (copy).
- Proof of property right.
- Geotechnical studies.
- Structural design.
- Plans for septic tanks.
BuildCo submits the file to the Directorate of Urban Affairs and then to the sanitation authority (Procedure 5). Later, the Directorate of Urban Planning and Habitat (Direction Générale de l’Urbanisme et de l’Habitat, DGHU) issues the authorization for payment of the construction tax. Following this payment to the Treasurer, the company must wait 7 to 14 days before obtaining the construction license.
Agency: Directorate of Urban planning and Habitat (DGHU)
|
1 day
|
no charge
|
| 3 |
Obtain project clearance from the Sanitation Department (Service d'Hygiene)
The construction cost is estimated at BIF 550,000 per sq. m., which puts the total cost of the building at BIF 715,330,000 . The payment due is BIF 2,000 per 10 million or BIF 143,066 for the project.
Agency: Sanitation service (Service D’Hygiène)
|
4 days
|
BIF 142,600
|
| 4 |
Submit application for the building permit at the DGHU
Once the file is approved by the “Service d’Hygiene”, it can then be deposited at the Service des Conseillers technique. There are 2 experts in this service who will then check the request, the plans and give any comments if applicable. Once their task is completed, they will send the entire file (plans, approval from “Service d’Hygiene” and their comments directly to the central DGHU. It usually takes between 1 - 2 days for this to happen.
Document needed for the building permit:
1. Property Title + 1 copy
2. Original Payment receipt of the “Frais de viabilisation” + 1 copy
• Payment is made at the Banque de la Republique du Burundi.
• Cost is 400 BIF/M2 (for the “Quartier des Usines”). This varies according to the place where the warehouse is being built. Viabilisation costs are for roads, electricity, water and telephone.
3. Original “Proces Verbal de bornage et d’arpentage” (obtain when the property title is being processed on the bare land) + 1 copy
4. Construction plans: Vues en plan, facades, coupe, plan d’implantation (4 copies of each)
5. Estimated cost of construction: original + 3 copies
6. Septic tank plan: original + 3 copies
7. Structural plan since it is a G +1: original + 1 copies
8. Geotechnical study : Original + 1 copies (since it is a G +1)
G + 1 = Ground level + 1 floor
Agency: Directorate of Urban planning and Habitat (DGHU)
|
1 day
|
no charge
|
| 5 |
Pay permit fees and the construction tax at the Banque de la Republique du Burundi
The cost is 0.6% of estimate (550,000 x 0.006 x 1,300.6). The construction cost per square meter is BIF 550,000.
Agency: Banque de la Republique du Burundi
|
1 day
|
BIF 4,812,220
|
| 6 |
Present proof of payment of the taxe de Batisse to the DGHU
When the DGHU receives proof of payment, the internal process to have the building permit will start.
|
1 day
|
no charge
|
| 7 |
Obtain building permit
There are two signatures on a building permit. The Director of DGHU signs on the file and then this file is transmitted to the Director General of DGHU for signature. There are no systems to inform people that their construction permit has been processed. Again it is the responsibility of that person to do the follow up.
Agency: Directorate of Urban planning and Habitat (DGHU)
|
14 days
|
no charge
|
| 8 |
Notify the Directorate of Urban planning and Habitat of the beginning of construction works
Should a (rare) case of litigation occur between BuildCo and its neighbors, the Directorate of Urban Planning and Habitat would verify the existence of the site. Otherwise, inspections occur randomly and infrequently owing to the directorate’s lack of manpower. In practice (not mentioned in existing laws), there are three other inspections: (a) when the walls are raised (Directorate of Urban Planning and Habitat); (b) upon closing of the septic tanks (sanitation service); and (3c to assess land value appreciation (Directorate of Urban Planning and Habitat).
Agency: Directorate of Urban planning and Habitat (DGHU)
|
1 day
|
no charge
|
| 9 |
Receive inspection when walls are raised
In practice, (not mentioned in existing laws), there are three other inspections: (a) when the walls are raised (Directorate of Urban Planning and Habitat); (b) upon closing of the septic tanks (sanitation service); and (c) to assess land value appreciation (Directorate of Urban Planning and Habitat).
Agency: Directorate of Urban planning and Habitat (DGHU)
|
1 day
|
no charge
|
| 10 |
Deposit request for the modification of the "Proeces Verbal de Bornage et d'arpentage" at the Cadastre
Agency: Cadastre
|
1 day
|
no charge
|
| 11 |
Receive site inspection from the Cadastre
Agency: Cadastre
|
1 day
|
no charge
|
| 12 |
Obtain updated "Proeces Verbal de Bornage et d'arpentage" from the Cadastre
Agency: Cadastre
|
3 days
|
no charge
|
| 13 |
Request and receive updated property title from the land registry
Agency: Department of Land Titles (in the Ministry of Justice) Service des Titres fanciers (au sein du Ministère de la Justice)
|
92 days
|
BIF 2,500
|
| * 14 |
Apply for water connection
Agency: REGIDESO
|
1 day
|
no charge
|
| * 15 |
Receive inspection of the construction site by water company to get estimate of connection costs
Agency: REGIDESO
|
14 days
|
no charge
|
| * 16 |
Obtain water connection
Agency: REGIDESO
|
60 days
|
BIF 500,000
|
| * 17 |
Apply for telephone line
Agency: ONATEL
|
1 day
|
no charge
|
| * 18 |
Receive on-site inspection by telephone company
Agency: ONATEL
|
7 days
|
no charge
|
| * 19 |
Obtain telephone connection
Agency: ONATEL
|
15 days
|
BIF 100,000
|
| * 20 |
Apply for sewage connection
Agency: SETEMU
|
1 day
|
no charge
|
| * 21 |
Receive on-site inspection by sewage company
Agency: SETEMU
|
7 days
|
no charge
|
| * 22 |
Obtain sewage connection
Agency: SETEMU
|
15 days
|
BIF 500,000
|
* Takes place simultaneously with another procedure.