Dealing with Construction Permits in
Tunja - 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, they must request a certificate of existence and legal representation from the Chamber of Commerce. This document proves the existence of a corporate body and other aspects such as date of incorporation, termination date, domicile, partners, capital, legal representative; the power the legal representative has to bind the company, and corporate purpose. The rate of public registration services is established in accordance to Decree 393 of 2002.
|
1 day
|
COP 3,500
|
| * 3 |
Obtain certificate of no outstanding payments on property tax
The payment can be made at any bank . The receipt of payment is presented before the office of the Treasury which will issue the certificate of no outstanding payments.
|
1 day
|
COP 8,000 (fixed value)
|
| 4 |
Obtain a land use certificate
The requirements to obtain this certificate are:
1. Submit a written application addressed to the Municipal Planning Office indicating the name of the company, its activity, address, phone number, signature and ID of the applicant
2. Submit the last receipts of most recent property tax payments
3. A certificate of existence and legal representation. In the case of public companies an attachment with the minute containing the designation of the legal representative must be attached as well
4. Power of attorney dully granted when acting through a representative
5. Certificate of no outstanding obligations due to the Municipality of Tunja
6. Property regulations if required
7. Written consent by the owner of the property in relation to the activities to be performed
8. Payment to obtain the certificate of land use
Reception and delivery of certificates are made from Monday to Friday from 8:00 am. to 12:00 m. and from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm
|
8 days
|
COP 8,000 (fixed value)
|
| 5 |
Obtain construction license
The constructor must present 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
|
45 days
|
COP 7,018,002 (the formula for the calculation of the expenses is the following: E=(Cf*i*m)+((Cv*i*j*m)*1.16.) For Tunja is : E = (865,068 x 4 x 0.54) + (397,520 x 4 x 5.17 x 0.54) x 1.16))
|
| 6 |
Pay construction and urban tax
Payment can be made at any bank or at the Municipal Treasury. Under the Tax Statute of Tunja, there is an exemption of five years and for the 50% when the tax payer proves that he hired workers from Tunja and that the materials used for the construction were purchased from local establishments. This agreement will be in effect until 2010.
|
1 day
|
COP 2,692,892 (value = value per use x m2 x 50% = 4,141 x 1,300.6 x 50% (there is a 50% discount if the constructor hires local workers. This assumption was considered))
|
| 7 |
Obtain previous approval for water connection services
In order to connect the water and sewage service the constructor must obtain a certificate issued by the Cadastre. Once the availability for the service is confirmed, the constructor submits before the company Proactiva Aguas de Tunja S.A. the following documents:
1. Application form indicating an address and phone number for further contacts
2. Copy of the professional license of the engineer in charge of the construction
3. Design records
4. Copy of the certificate for service availability
5. Copies of any technical information
6. Payment receipt of the application form to request project’s inspections (its amount must be paid at the offices of Plaza Real
7. Drawings of the construction areas approved by the urban curator
8. If necessary, a copy of the deed of constitution of the easement must also be furnished
|
1 day
|
No cost
|
| * 8 |
Request connection to electricity service
To obtain the final connection it is necessary to present the RETIE certificate issued by an authorized company. In Tunja there are already some companies that issue the certificate. In order to obtain the RETIE certificate, the constructor must request a certificate that states the provider of the electricity materials complies with the established regulations.
|
1 day
|
COP 150,000
|
| * 9 |
Obtain telephone connection
The requirements are: copy of an identification card and a copy of a utility bill (water or electricity). If the constructor gets multiple services or enters an agreement with the company for a minimum period of one year, the connection is free of charge. This procedure can become very complex and lengthy if the construction is located far out from Tunja’s grids. Some constructors say that currently it is very uncommon to request a fixed phone line.
|
6 days
|
No cost
|
| 10 |
Obtain connection to water service
Proactiva Aguas de Tunja S.A. ESP visits the construction to approve the construction works, ascertain compliance with the terms of the license and to install the water meter device. In some cases, Proactiva Aguas de Tunja S.A. makes further visits to verify that the water and sewer services were well installed.
|
3 days
|
COP 250,000 (includes registration costs, meter, registration chamber, labor, materials, box and registries of user’s handling and power cut)
|
| * 11 |
Obtain RETIE certificate
The constructor needs to file before one of the Managerial offices of EBSA the following documents:
1. Copy of the project’s design filed and approved by EBSA
2. Certificate FT-ES-08 of availability for electricity service
3. Receipt of payment made to EBSA to carry out an inspection.
4. Copy of the identification card of the applicant
5. Certificate of zoning
6. Copy of the form FT-ES-07 (minutes of connections made for certain projects)
7. Copy of the identification card and professional license of the electrician
8. Letter stating that the company is in compliance with the terms of the RETIE certificate
|
1 day
|
COP 94,000
|
| 12 |
Obtain connection to electricity service
RETIE’s regulations oblige the power company to pay visits to the constructions at least once every two years. The first visit to grant availability and the second to approve the works, inspect and seal the meters and connections. Additional visits are made when needed.
|
17 days
|
COP 520,000 (counter (300,000) + cable (12,000*10) + labor and materials (100,000))
|
| 13 |
Final inspection by the Municipal Government
|
1 day
|
No cost
|
* Takes place simultaneously with another procedure.
Data snapshots