Dealing with Construction Permits in
Jamaica
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:
JMD 46,200,000
- City: Kingston
| No. |
Procedure |
Time to Complete |
Associated Costs |
| 1 |
Obtain approval of building plans by KSAC
BuildCo must obtain approval of building plans from the Planning Authority, the Fire Department, the National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA), and other authorities concerned. Several documents are required to obtain this approval, including property title and proof of ownership. Approval is valid for 2 years and can be renewed.
To obtain approval, BuildCo files the drawings with the municipality. Four meetings are held to review the drawings:
- Fire.
- Health.
- Road.
- A general meeting after all others are completed and NEPA approval is received.
Each meeting has a set date, normally one a week sequentially. If there is a holiday, the meeting will be postponed. If BuildCo misses a meeting, the whole process will be prolonged. In November 2007 the government of Jamaica created an initiative to reduce the number of days to obtain a permit from 210 to 90 days. It is expected that by the end of 2008 this will be part of a new building law that includes the creation of a "one stop shop". Currently, on average, the time to obtain a license have been reduce to 130 days.
Agency: Municipal Authority(KSAC) Kingston & St. Andrew corporation
|
130 days
|
JMD 924,000
|
| * 2 |
Obtain approval from Environmental Protection Agency
Meanwhile, BuildCo files the same document with the NEPA for approval of the plans. In simple cases, approval takes 10 workings days. In complicated cases, an environmental impact assessment is required, and approval might take much longer. BuildCo files NEPA's approval with the municipality.
Agency: Environmental Protection Agency
|
14 days
|
no charge
|
| 3 |
Request and receive excavation inspection from KSAC
BuildCo sends a written notification enclosed with the project approval number to the building authority 3 days in advance of the excavation inspection. If the inspector comes on schedule, the construction does not have to stop.
Agency: Municipal Authority(KSAC) Kingston & St. Andrew corporation
|
1 day
|
no charge
|
| 4 |
Request and receive foundation steel inspection from KSAC
Agency: Municipal Authority(KSAC) Kingston & St. Andrew corporation
|
1 day
|
no charge
|
| 5 |
Request and receive beam and roof inspection
Agency: Municipal Authority(KSAC) Kingston & St. Andrew corporation
|
1 day
|
no charge
|
| 6 |
Obtain sewage installation
Agency: National Water Commission
|
12 days
|
JMD 10,000
|
| * 7 |
Obtain telephone connection
Agency: Cable and Wireless Jamaica Ltd.
|
7 days
|
JMD 1,000
|
| * 8 |
Obtain water connection
Agency: National Water Commission
|
5 days
|
JMD 45,000
|
* Takes place simultaneously with another procedure.