Lao PDR

Dealing with Construction Permits in

Lao PDR

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: LAK 1,744,010,228
  • City: Vientiane

About This Topic

To see indicator data for all economies, see the Dealing with Construction Permits page. To see how economies rank, see the Rankings page.

No. Procedure Time to Complete Associated Costs
1 Purchase the application forms to a building permit

BuildCo should purchase the application forms to apply for a building permit from the district construction division. Vientiane Prefecture is divided into four districts, which are further subdivided into villages.

Agency: District Construction Division
1 day LAK 20,000
2 Request and obtain residence certificate from Village Chief

BuildCo must obtain a residence certificate certifying that the applicant (the company's manager) has a permanent address.

Agency: Village Chief
1 day LAK 40,000
3 Request and obtain map describing the location of the construction site, and map describing the technical characteristics of the ground

BuildCo must obtain from the district land management authority a map (on a scale from 1:5,000 to 1:20,000) delineating the location of the construction site. In addition, the company must obtain from the same authority a map (on a scale from 1:5,000 to 1:20,000) delineating the technical characteristics of the plot: surrounding streets and inner ways, existing buildings, walls, electricity poles, and the like.

Agency: District Land Management Authority
14 days LAK 60,000
4 Submit building permit application to the district construction division

BuildCo must submit the application for a building permit, along with a copy of the land title and documents described above (four copies of each). The district construction division inspects the property. If the inspectors approve the application, the head of the district will sign the approval. For buildings larger than 200 sq. m., the district chief sends a letter to the prefect of Vientiane Prefecture for final approval; the district construction division notifies the applicant that the letter has been forwarded to the Prefecture.

Agency: District Construction Division
1 day LAK 50,000
5 Receive pre-approval inspection from the district construction division

The district construction division inspects the property. If the inspectors approve the application, the head of the district signs the approval. For buildings larger than 200 sq. m., the district chief sends a letter to the Vientiane Prefecture’s Office of Building and Urban Planning for final approval; the district construction division notifies the applicant that the letter has been forwarded to the Prefecture.

Agency: District Construction Division
1 day no charge
6 Receive pre-approval inspection from the Vientiane Prefecture

The inspectors verify that the construction plan complies with building regulations.

Agency: Vientiane Capital
1 day no charge
7 Obtain building permit from Vieintiane Prefecture

After the plan is approved, the Office of Building and Urban Planning of Vientiane Capital contacts the applicant to pick up the permit. If the Prefecture does not contact the applicant within 30 days, the plan is deemed approved.

Agency: Vieintiane Capital
30 days LAK 710,300
8 Receive inspection from committee for management of construction - I

The inspection committee may inspect the construction site several times before, during, and after construction. The committee may conduct any of the following inspections: pre-construction; excavation work; foundations work; concrete work; steel work for slabs; frame; damp-proof course; drainage; timber scaffolding; electrical; plumbing (water); environmental; sanitary (sewage); surroundings of the building; structure; final inspection.

Agency: Committee for Management of Construction
1 day no charge
9 Receive inspection from committee for management of construction - II



Agency: Committee for Management of Construction
1 day no charge
10 Receive inspection from committee for management of construction - III



Agency: Committee for Management of Construction
1 day no charge
11 Receive inspection from committee for management of construction - IV



Agency: Committee for Management of Construction
1 day no charge
12 Receive inspection from committee for management of construction - V



Agency: Committee for Management of Construction
1 day no charge
13 Receive inspection from committee for management of construction - VI



Agency: Committee for Management of Construction
1 day no charge
14 Receive inspection from committee for management of construction - VII



Agency: Committee for Management of Construction
1 day no charge
15 Receive inspection from committee for management of construction - VIII



Agency: Committee for Management of Construction
1 day no charge
16 Receive inspection from committee for management of construction - IX



Agency: Committee for Management of Construction
1 day no charge
17 Receive inspection from committee for management of construction - X



Agency: Committee for Management of Construction
1 day no charge
18 Receive inspection from committee for management of construction - XI



Agency: Committee for Management of Construction
1 day no charge
19 Receive inspection from committee for management of construction - XII



Agency: Committee for Management of Construction
1 day no charge
20 Request and receive final inspection from committee for management of construction

After construction is finished, the project owner or building owner must request in writing for the Construction Management Committee (CMC) to inspect the construction according to the issued building permit. If the construction complies with construction regulations, the Housing and Urban Planning Department, in coordination with State Asset and Housing Department, officially issues a correct construction certificate (a correct construction certificate means a certificate issued by the CMC to certify that the construction complies with the regulation).

Regulation No.1512 (dated September 28, 1991) has been replaced by Decision No. 7681 (dated June 29, 2005).

Agency: Committee for Management of Construction
1 day no charge
21 Obtain certificate of completion of building works


20 days no charge
* 22 Request and receive connection to water and sewage services

To obtain a water and sewerage connection to the land where the building will be constructed, the applicant must enclose the building permit or a correct construction certificate with the application.

Agency: Water Supply Authority of Lao PDR (WASA)
45 days LAK 3,000,000
* 23 Request and receive connection to telephone

To obtain a telephone connection to the land where the building will be constructed, the applicant must enclose the building permit or a correct construction certificate with the application.

Agency: Enterprise of Telecommunications Lao (ETL)
30 days LAK 900,000
* Takes place simultaneously with another procedure.