Dealing with Construction Permits in
Cartagena - Colombia
Below is a detailed summary of the procedures, time and costs to build a warehouse. This includes 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 subnational project in Colombia. Download this Doing Business report or explore other cities and topics.
| No. |
Procedure |
Time to Complete |
Associated Costs |
| 1 |
Obtain the ownership history and no-lien certificate
This certificate provides the legal information on the property and on its current and previous ownership. The rate is set according to Decrees 1250 of 1970 and 2280 of 2008, the latter as amended by Resolution 0035 of 2009. Any individual or legal entity can request the issue of an ownership history and no-lien certificate of a property at the Registry Office.
|
1 day
|
COP 11,840
|
| * 2 |
Obtain the certificate of existence and legal representation of the Construction Company
When the parties are Limited Liability Companies, the Certificate of existence and legal Representation must be requested from the Chamber of Commerce. This document certifies the existence of the legal entity, as well as other aspects such as its date of incorporation, its expiration date, registered address, partners, capital, legal representative, his or her authorization to enter into deals in the name of the company, and its line of business. The rates for public registration services are set according to what is established in Decree 393 of 2002.
Pursuant to Decree 1272 of 2009, in cities with over 500,000 inhabitants where there are technological means for on line consultations, urban curator must verify That the information registered in the system corresponds to the documents and certificates provided by the constructor.
|
1 day
|
COP 3,500
|
| * 3 |
Obtain certificate of no outstanding payments on property tax
The certificate is issued only if the constructor is up to date with his payments.
|
1 day
|
No cost
|
| 4 |
Pay certificate of no outstanding contribution obligation on property value increases due to public works
|
1 day
|
COP 20,000
|
| 5 |
Obtain certificate of no outstanding contribution obligation on property value increases due to public works
The certificate is required by the urban curator to issue the construction license.
|
1 day
|
No cost
|
| 6 |
Obtain construction license
The constructor must submit the following documents (Article 18 of Decree 564 of 2006):
1. Copy of the ownership history and no-lien certificate, with an issue date no later than one month prior to the date of the request
2. The unified national license request form, established through Resolution 0984 of 2005, issued by the Ministry of the Environment, Housing and Territorial Development
3. Copy of the certificate of existence and legal representation, with an issue date of less than one month prior to the date of the request
4. Copy of the documents or tax statements proving payment of property taxes for the previous five years
5. Drawing of the site and identification of the property.
6. List of the addresses of neighboring properties
|
40 days
|
COP 11,696,670 (the formula for the calculation of the expenses is the following: E=(Cf*i*m)+((Cv*i*j*m)*1.16.) For Cartagena, is: E = (865,068 x 4 x 0.9) + ((397,520 x 4 x 5.17 x 0.9) x 1.16))
|
| 7 |
Pay urban boundary tax
In the case of new constructions, the amount is 1% of the cost of the construction, and an additional stamp is paid for 1% of what the expenses are
|
1 day
|
COP 10,794,980
|
| 8 |
Obtain previous approval for water connection services
Cartagena’s water works company certifies the availability of water connection. This procedure is necessary because in some areas constructions are not permitted due to sewage restrictions.
|
20 days
|
COP 350,000
|
| 9 |
Final inspection by Cartagena’s water Company
|
15 days
|
No cost
|
| * 10 |
Request connection to electricity service
With this application the design and availability of the connection are approved.
|
7 days
|
No cost
|
| 11 |
Obtain RETIE certificate
Cost includes all the forms that must be filled for the power company, cost of inspection and certification required to construct the warehouse.
|
15 days
|
COP 2,250,000
|
| 12 |
Obtain connection to electricity service
|
10 days
|
COP 5,000,000
|
| * 13 |
Obtain telephone connection
Time depends on the operator’s schedule. On average this procedure takes 5 days.
|
5 days
|
No cost
|
| 14 |
Final inspection by the Municipal Government
The office in charge of the inspection is the Urban Control Division. The minor Municipal Government (Alcaldía menor) opens a log when the project starts and conducts periodic visits.
|
1 day
|
No cost
|
* Takes place simultaneously with another procedure.
Data snapshots