Dealing with Construction Permits in
Fiji
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:
FJD 581,056
- City: Suva
| No. |
Procedure |
Time to Complete |
Associated Costs |
| 1 |
Obtain a set of design requirements and conditions of development
|
1 day
|
no charge
|
| * 2 |
Obtain project pre-approval from Occupation Department, Health Department and Safety Department
The cost is FJD 110 per hour of work. One 1 hour of work is what the agency would charge for our case study.
|
7 days
|
FJD 110
|
| * 3 |
Obtain project pre-approval from National fire authority
|
21 days
|
no charge
|
| * 4 |
Obtain project pre-approval from the Water and sewage authority
Agency: Public works department
|
7 days
|
no charge
|
| 5 |
Request and obtain development permission from Suva City Council
This application, also known as the Town Planning Form, must be accompanied by general building plans (three copies), specifications and detailed structural drawings (two copies), and the locality plan (three copies).
Agency: Suva City Council
|
20 days
|
no charge
|
| 6 |
Request and obtain building permit with Suva City Council and pay building permit fee
The application should be accompanied by the development permission (three copies), the locality plan (one copy), building plans (three copies), specifications (two copies), and copy of title plan. The plans are reviewed by the following Suva City Council staff: a structural engineer, civil engineer, health department, and city planner.
The fee is paid at the time of permit application and is calculated on the project value: FJD 88 for construction projects of up to FJD 20,000 plus FJD 2.20 for every FJD 1,000, or part of thereof, in excess of FJD20,000 (see the schedule in the attached building application form). For a building valued at FJD 975,450 (FJD 720 sq/m * 1300.6 sq/m), the permit would cost FJD 88 plus FJD 1,195, for a total of FJD 2,190.
In theory, Suva City Council carries out Procedures 3–5, but in most cases, to expedite the process, the applicant visits the relevant authorities in person.
Agency: Suva City Council
|
60 days
|
FJD 2,190
|
| * 7 |
Submit plans for approval by the Ministry of Town and Country Planning
Agency: Ministry of Town and Country Planning
|
1 day
|
no charge
|
| * 8 |
Obtain project clearance from Health Department
Agency: Health Department
|
1 day
|
FJD 50
|
| * 9 |
Obtain project clearance from Public Works Department at the Ministry of Works and Energy
Within the Public Works Department, the plans are reviewed by the Roadside Section and the Water or Sewage Section.
Agency: Ministry of Works and Energy (Public Works Department)
|
1 day
|
no charge
|
| 10 |
Notify and receive inspection from the Engineering Department of Suva City Council about completion of foundation work
The inspection needs to be requested 1 day in advance, but they reliably come. It does not delay the construction process
Agency: Suva City Council (Engineering Department)
|
1 day
|
no charge
|
| 11 |
Notify and receive inspection from the Engineering Department about setup of the structure
The inspection needs to be requested 1 day in advance, but they reliably come. It does not delay the construction process
Agency: Suva City Council (Engineering Department)
|
1 day
|
no charge
|
| 12 |
Notify and receive inspection from the Engineering Department about completion of the roof
The inspection needs to be requested 1 day in advance, but they reliably come. It does not delay the construction process
Agency: Suva City Council (Engineering Department)
|
1 day
|
no charge
|
| 13 |
Notify and receive inspection from the Engineering Department about completion of the project
Agency: Suva City Council (Engineering Department)
|
1 day
|
no charge
|
| 14 |
Obtain water and sewage connection from Public Works Department
The cost cited here is for commercial real estate.
Agency: Ministry of Works and Energy (Public Works Department)
|
30 days
|
FJD 400
|
| * 15 |
Receive plumbing and sanitary inspection from Public Works Department
Agency: Ministry of Works and Energy (Public Works Department)
|
1 day
|
no charge
|
| 16 |
Receive final inspection from local authority and obtain occupancy permit
The local authority coordinates the fire inspection, which includes the national fire authority, the Engineering Department, and the Environment Department.
Agency: Local Authority
|
3 days
|
no charge
|
| 17 |
Request and receive connection to telephone from Telecom Fiji
Agency: Telecom Fiji
|
8 days
|
FJD 350
|
* Takes place simultaneously with another procedure.