Papua New Guinea

Dealing with Construction Permits in

Papua New Guinea

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: PGK 1,170,540
  • City: Port Moresby

About This Topic

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No. Procedure Time to Complete Associated Costs
1 Request and obtain planning permission from Department of Lands and Physical Planning



Agency: Department of Lands and Physical Planning (Municipality)
30 days PGK 100
2 Request and obtain certificate of ownership and site map from Department of Lands and Physical Planning



Agency: Department of Lands and Physical Planning (Municipality)
30 days PGK 100
* 3 Request and obtain permission from Fire authority



Agency: Fire Authority
30 days no charge
* 4 Request and obtain project clearance from Health Department



Agency: Health Department
29 days no charge
* 5 Request and obtain project clearance from Department of Environment and Conservation



Agency: Department of Environment and Conservation
28 days no charge
* 6 Request and obtain project clearance from Water and Sewage Authority



Agency: Eda Ramu
27 days no charge
7 Request and obtain building permit from Department of Lands and Physical Planning

The building permit is issued by the Municipal Building Board after all clearances have been obtained.

Agency: Department of Lands and Physical Planning (Municipality)
90 days PGK 100
8 Request and receive foundations work inspection from Municipality

In some cases, a telephone call is enough to schedule the inspection. However, in other cases, BuildCo might have to provide transportation to the inspector. Inspections must be requested by the company at each phase of the construction work.

Agency: Municipality
1 day no charge
9 Request and receive concrete work inspection from Municipality



Agency: Municipality
1 day no charge
10 Request and receive steel work for slabs inspection from Municipality



Agency: Municipality
1 day no charge
11 Request and receive frame inspection from Municipality



Agency: Municipality
1 day no charge
12 Request and receive damp-proof course inspection from Municipality



Agency: Municipality
1 day no charge
13 Request water and sewage connection



Agency: Eda Ramu
1 day no charge
* 14 Receive plumbing inspection



Agency: Eda Ramu
1 day no charge
* 15 Connect to water and sewage services from Eda Ramu



Agency: Eda Ramu
29 days PGK 2,000
* 16 Request telephone connection



Agency: Telikom PNG Limited
1 day no charge
* 17 Receive inspection from Telikom



Agency: Telikom PNG Limited
1 day no charge
* 18 Connect to phone services from Telikom



Agency: Telikom PNG Limited
27 days PGK 100
19 Request occupancy permit

In the case of a small project, the Building Board is not involved in the approval, and the occupancy permit can be granted in a day. However, if the building requires approval by the Building Board, the issuance of the permit will take a month since the board meets once a month. The Chief Building Inspector proposes the project to the Building Board, which then grants the final decision. The occupancy permit may also be issued upon completion of certain phases of the project.

Agency: Municipality
1 day no charge
20 Receive inspection



Agency: Municipality
1 day no charge
21 Obtain occupancy permit



Agency: Municipality
29 days no charge
* Takes place simultaneously with another procedure.