Côte d'Ivoire

Dealing with Construction Permits in

Côte d'Ivoire

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: XOF 455,210,000
  • City: Abidjan

About This Topic

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No. Procedure Time to Complete Associated Costs
1 Obtain recent proof of land title

Only about 30% of landowners have a property title.
30 days XOF 5,000
2 Obtain topographical surveys by an authorized land surveyor (6 copies)

In an urban zone, the cost for the technical dossier that is the basis for six excerpts is fixed at XOF 710,000 by the Order of Land Surveyors. The land surface is taken into account in rural areas.

Agency: Authorized Land Surveyor
75 days XOF 710,000
3 Obtain approval of survey excerpts by water authorities (Société de Distribution D’Eau de Côte D’Ivoire)

BuildCo must submit to the electricity company six copies of the topographical surveys and the property titles. The electricity company must be informed about the type of electricity needed (low or medium tension).

Agency: Société de Distribution D’Eau de Côte D’Ivoire (SODECI)
10 days no charge
4 Obtain approval of survey excerpts by electricity company (Compagnie Ivoirienne D’Electricité de Côte D’Ivoire)

BuildCo must submit to the water company six copies of the topographical surveys and property titles.

Agency: Compagnie Ivoirienne D’Electricité de Côte D’Ivoire
10 days no charge
5 Obtain approval of survey excerpts by land authorities (Domaine Urbain or Conservation Foncière)



Agency: Survey Excerpts Land Authorities (Domaine Urbain or Conservation Foncière)
70 days XOF 5,000
6 Obtain certificate of town-planning



Agency: Ministry of Construction and Urban Planning (Direction de l’Urbanisme au Ministère de la Construction)
30 days XOF 5,000
7 Obtain approval of plans by decontamination department (direction d’assainissement)



Agency: Decontamination Department
30 days XOF 5,000
8 Submit building plans for approval by the President of the Order of Architects.


1 day no charge
9 Obtain Building Permit

The dossier required to obtain a building permit comprises the following documents: - Block plan (scale,1/500, 1/200, 1/100). - Execution plan (scale 1/50). - Summary of technical specifications. - Summary of cost estimates. - Proof of property ownership - Written approval from the Minister of Urban Planning. Six copies of the dossier must be sent to the Building Permit Commission. The commission is comprised of the Construction Minister, a representative of the municipality, a representative of the Civil Protection Department, a representative from the Hygiene Department, and a representative from the Order of Architects. The building permit is obtained in an average of 4 to 6 months if one does not pay bribes. Two weeks after submission, the dossier is sent to the municipality, where the permit fee is paid. An independent external architect will be contracted to review the application if project cost is higher than XOF 30 million or for the construction of cinemas, factories, schools, pharmacies, or any building open to the public.

Agency: Local Municipality or the Ministry of Construction and Urban Planning (Ministère de la Construction et de l’Urbanisme)
200 days XOF 70,000
10 Obtain plan approval by central municipality

Although a municipal representative is part of the building permit commission, BuildCo must also obtain the approval of the central municipality, which delivers the building authorization number. The municipality’s participation in the commission is limited to technical advice.

Agency: Central Municipality
20 days XOF 50,000
11 Obtain approval of plans by fire department



Agency: Fire Department
14 days no charge
12 Receive inspection from the national security commission to verify that the building is conform to security standards

The inspections are unannounced.

Agency: National Security Commission
1 day no charge
13 Obtain certificate of conformity



Agency: Ministry of Construction and Urban Planning (Ministère de la construction et de l’urbanisme
75 days no charge
14 Request water connection



Agency: SODECI
1 day no charge
15 Receive site inspection by water company

The inspection takes place within a week of applying for electricity. The cost estimate is given days after the inspection.

Agency: SODECI
1 day no charge
16 Obtain water connection

It takes 7 days to obtain the connection once the payment is made. The total time, from the application to the final connection, may take up to a month if no preliminary installation was made. The water service agency is generally efficient, and the connection can be obtained quickly.

Agency: SODECI
14 days XOF 130,000
* 17 Request phone line

A site plan is attached to the application. Inspections only take place for complicated cases. One may pay for the phone connection at the time of the application.

Agency: Côte d'Ivoire Télécom
7 days XOF 22,000
18 Request and receive inspection from "SECUREL", Laboratory of Buildings and Public Works

If one pays for the inspector’s transportation, the inspection can occur the same day. Otherwise, it will take place in 2 days.

Agency: SECUREL (Direction du Laboratoire Des Bâtiments et Travaux Publics)
1 day XOF 20,000
* Takes place simultaneously with another procedure.