Dealing with Construction Permits in
Kuwait
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:
KWD 277,000
- City: Kuwait City
| No. |
Procedure |
Time to Complete |
Associated Costs |
| 1 |
Obtain lot plan with site map from the Municipality of Kuwait
Agency: Municipality of Kuwait
|
3 days
|
KWD 20
|
| 2 |
Obtain location clearances from the Municipal Authority
Agency: Municipality of Kuwait
|
1 day
|
KWD 130
|
| 3 |
Obtain project clearance from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry
Agency: Ministry of Commerce and Industry
|
3 days
|
KWD 20
|
| 4 |
Obtain zoning approval from the Municipal Authority
Builders request a lot plan as well as a zoning approval physically at the municipality. In fact, to obtain a copy of the lot plan a copy of the government’s lease agreement need to be taken to the municipality.
Agency: Municipality of Kuwait
|
8 days
|
KWD 20
|
| 5 |
Submit building permit application to the Municipal Authority
Agency: Municipality of Kuwait
|
1 day
|
KWD 100
|
| 6 |
Obtain telephone plan approval from the Ministry of Communications
Agency: Ministry of Communications
|
20 days
|
KWD 1,500
|
| * 7 |
Receive electricity inspection from Ministry of Electricity and Water
Agency: Ministry of Electricity and Water
|
1 day
|
no charge
|
| 8 |
Obtain electricity plans approval from Ministry of Electricity and Water
Agency: Ministry of Electricity and Water
|
7 days
|
KWD 4,000
|
| * 9 |
Receive water inspection from Ministry of Electricity and Water
Agency: Ministry of Electricity and Water
|
1 day
|
no charge
|
| 10 |
Obtain water plan approval from Ministry of Electricity and Water
Agency: Ministry of Electricity and Water
|
5 days
|
KWD 3,000
|
| * 11 |
Receive sewage inspection from Ministry of Public Works
Agency: Ministry of Public Works
|
1 day
|
no charge
|
| 12 |
Obtain sewage plans approval from Ministry of Public Works
Agency: Ministry of Public Works
|
14 days
|
KWD 2,000
|
| 13 |
Obtain building permit
BuildCo must submit Application Form 1 for a building license and attach the following documents (including the documents described in the procedures above): - A copy of the deed of title to the land, allocation decree, or lease agreement. In the case of an allocation decree or lease agreement, a recent rent receipt should be submitted. - A copy of the architectural contract between BuildCo and an accredited engineering firm responsible for the architecture of the building, - Original letter of zoning opinion. - Third-party liability insurance policy (covering 2 or 3 years, depending on the time required to complete the building). - Original copies of plans or blueprints of the building from the engineering firm, including all details of the external facade, internal design, internal and external diameters, calculation of building area and space area around the building. - Original soil test report. - Approval from the Safety Department. - Approval from the Roads Department, if underground parking is included (which does not apply to the warehouse project). - Form 2, Undertaking of compliance of the plans with the buildings codes and cadastres, which should be signed and submitted (by an engineering firm). - Form 3, Undertaking of compliance with the construction plans, which should be signed and submitted (by an engineering firm). - Undertaking to provide specific plans (done by an engineering firm) that meet the requirements of -- The Ministry of Electricity and Energy for the electric supply. -- The Ministry of Public Works for the sewerage system. -- The Public Authority for Civil Aviation for the height of the warehouse. -- The Ministry of Communications for the telephone lines.
Agency: Municipality of Kuwait
|
14 days
|
KWD 150
|
| 14 |
Receive soil test inspection from the municipality
Several inspections may take place during construction. The following inspections are conducted by the municipality or by a local consulting engineer who submits the information to the municipality: soil inspection; excavation work inspection; foundation work inspection; steel work for slabs inspection; frame inspection; damp-proof course inspection; drainage inspection; timber scaffolding inspection; environmental inspection; inspection of the building’s surroundings; final inspection. The concrete work inspection and inspection of the structure are conducted by the Construction Board. The labor inspection is conducted by the Labor Inspection Agency from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor. The fire inspection is conducted by the Fire Department. All these inspections may take place. However, on average, the warehouse would undergo 3 to 4 inspections per year. Therefore, only three inspections are included here as procedures.
Agency: Municipality of Kuwait
|
1 day
|
no charge
|
| 15 |
Receive mid-way through construction inspection from the municipality
Agency: Municipality of Kuwait
|
1 day
|
no charge
|
| 16 |
Receive on-site inspection from municipality
The municipality inspects the buildings to ensure compliance with the drawings.
Agency: Municipality of Kuwait
|
1 day
|
no charge
|
| 17 |
Obtain site take-over letter
BuildCo must submit an application for the site take-over letter and attach the following documents: - A copy of the construction license. - An undertaking from BuildCo that it shall carry out the construction work on the warehouse or, alternatively, that is has a construction contract with a contractor. In case of a construction contract with a contractor, a copy of the performance bond should be submitted. - An undertaking from an accredited supervising engineer to supervise the construction approved by the municipality. - Signature of the site take-over letter by BuildCo, the contractor (if any), and the municipality.
|
20 days
|
KWD 10
|
| 18 |
Obtain telephone connection
Agency: Kuwait Telecom
|
17 days
|
KWD 250
|
| * 19 |
Obtain water connection
Agency: Kuwait Water Company
|
7 days
|
KWD 750
|
| * 20 |
Obtain sewage connection
Agency: Kuwait Water Company
|
7 days
|
KWD 750
|
| 21 |
Prepare the file of cadastral measure of the structure
|
7 days
|
KWD 10
|
| 22 |
Receive inspection from the fire department and obtain inspection certificate
Agency: Fire Department
|
1 day
|
KWD 5
|
| 23 |
Obtain certificate of fire and panic safety form Civil Defense department
Agency: Civil Defense Department
|
5 days
|
no charge
|
| 24 |
Register building with the real estate registry
Agency: Real Estate Registry
|
1 day
|
KWD 10
|
* Takes place simultaneously with another procedure.