Philippines

Dealing with Construction Permits in

Quezon City - Philippines

Below is a detailed summary of the procedures, time and costs to build a warehouse. This includes 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 subnational project in Philippines. Download this Doing Business report or explore other cities and topics.

No. Procedure Time to Complete Associated Costs
1 Obtain certified true copy of the land title from the Register of Deeds (RD)

The certified true copy of the land title serves as proof of ownership of the land on which the warehouse is to be built.
7 days PHP 160 (PHP 30 for the certification + PHP 6 for each additional page (4 pages needed) + PHP 112 IT fee)
* 2 Obtain lot plan with site map from the geodetic engineer

The company must obtain the lot plan with site map from a geodetic engineer to confirm the location of the land purported to be in the land title. A lot plan with site map is signed, sealed, and prepared after a meticulous geodetic survey, or at least after an analysis has been conducted of the lot technical description appearing on the title.
3 days PHP 1,250
* 3 Obtain barangay clearance

The barangay clearance is generally a requirement for obtaining the locational clearance. The costs for barangay clearances vary as barangays have the discretion to impose their own fees for as long as such fees are reasonable and within the limits imposed by the Local Government Code and city ordinances.
2 days PHP 300
4 Apply for the locational clearance at the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO)

The locational clearance is required to ensure that the construction conforms to the city’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan and zoning ordinances.

The applicant must submit the following requirements:
a. Notarized locational clearance application form;
b. Barangay clearance;
c. Transfer Certificate of Title (TCT);
d. Latest real property tax receipt; and
e. Architectural plan.

 1 day PHP 45 (filing fee)
5 Notarize the locational clearance application form at the notary


1 day PHP 50
6 Receive inspection for the locational clearance from the CPDO


1 day No cost (fees included in procedure 7)
7 Obtain the locational clearance from the CPDO

The applicant pays the locational clearance fee at the City Treasurer's Office (CTO) and obtains the locational clearance at the CPDO.
5 days PHP 2,926 (PHP 2.25 per square meter)
* 8 Apply and obtain Fire Safety Evaluation Clearance (FSEC) from the local Fire Marshall at the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)

The FSEC is a clearance with a fire safety checklist that enumerates the life and fire safety requirements of the Fire Code.

The City Fire Marshall evaluates one set of plans and specifications submitted by the applicant to ensure that they conform to the fire safety and control requirements of the Fire Code. The applicant must also submit 3 sets of the Fire and Life Safety Assessment Report (FALAR) 1 (which documents the fire and life safety features of the building) prepared by an architect who is duly certified by the BFP to prepare this report.

 7 days PHP 19,500 (0.1% of the estimated project cost)
9 Apply and obtain the building permit and ancillary permits at the Office of the Building Official (OBO)

The ancillary permits consist of: (1) the architectural permit, (2) civil/structural permit, (3) electrical permit, (4) mechanical permit, (5) sanitary permit, (6) plumbing permit, and (7) electronics permit.

The applicant must submit the following requirements:
a. Certified true copy of Original Certificate of Title (OCT)/TCT on file with the Registry of Deeds;
b. Photocopy of tax declaration;
c. Building permit application form;
d. Five (5) sets of survey plans, design plans, specifications and other related documents (i.e., architectural documents, civil/structural documents, electrical documents, mechanical documents, sanitary documents, plumbing documents, electronics documents, geodetic documents, and clearances from other agencies); and
e. Locational clearance from the CPDO.

After the building permit application is approved, the building official makes an assessment and issues an order of payment for the company to pay at the CTO. Once the company has paid the building permit fees, it will present the official receipt to the Receiving/Releasing Section of the OBO which will then issue the permit.
12 days PHP 39,018 (according to the National Building Code of the Philippines, the cost of the building permit is PHP 23 per square meter. The computation here is based on PHP 30 per square meter to account for ancillary costs such as electrical, mechanical and plumbing fees)
10 Receive inspection from the BFP during construction

The BFP conducts an inspection during construction to ensure that the plans and fire safety precautions are observed.
1 day No cost (fees included in procedure 8)
11 Receive inspection from the OBO during construction

During the construction of the warehouse, the OBO conducts an inspection to ensure that the construction follows the approved building plans and design.
1 day No cost (fees included in procedure 9)
12 Apply for the Fire Safety Inspection Certificate (FSIC) at the BFP

Once construction has been completed, the company requests the BFP to inspect the site to certify that the required fire safety construction, fire protective and/or warning systems are properly installed and in good working condition. The applicant must submit a Fire and Life Safety Assessment Report 2 (which certifies that the construction of the building was in accordance with FALAR 1), prepared by an architect who is duly certified by the BFP to prepare this report.
1 day PHP 3,901 (10% of building permit fees)
13 Receive final inspection for the FSIC from the BFP


1 day No cost (fees included in procedure 12)
14 Obtain the FSIC from the BFP


5 days No cost
* 15 Apply for health certificate at the City Health Office (CHO)


1 day No cost
* 16 Receive inspection for the health certificate from the CHO


1 day No cost
* 17 Obtain the health certificate from the CHO


5 days PHP 400 (fixed fee for commercial applications)
* 18 Apply for the Certificate of Final Electrical Inspection (CFEI) at the OBO

The CFEI certifies that a final inspection of the electrical installation has been conducted and that such installation has been completed in accordance with the approved plans and specifications on file with the OBO and the provisions of the Philippine Electrical Code.
1 day No cost
* 19 Receive final inspection for the CFEI from the OBO


1 day No cost
* 20 Obtain the CFEI from the OBO


1 day No cost
21 Apply for the Certificate of Occupancy at the OBO

In applying for a Certificate of Occupancy, the applicant must submit the following to the OBO:
a. Application for Certificate of Occupancy;
b. FSIC;
c. Health certificate;
d. Duly notarized certificate of completion;
e. Construction logbook;
f. As-built plans and specifications; and
g. Building inspection sheet,

all signed and sealed by the architect or engineer who undertook the full-time inspection and supervision of the construction.

1 day No cost
22 Receive final inspection for the Certificate of Occupancy from the OBO

The OBO conducts a final inspection to check the building based on the certificate of completion, construction logbook, building inspection sheets, original and as-built plans and specifications.
1 day No cost (fees included in procedure 23)
23 Obtain the Certificate of Occupancy from the OBO

After the OBO has processed the application and conducted the inspection, it then issues an assessment and order of payment. The OBO issues the Certificate of Occupancy after the applicant has paid the corresponding fees.
18 days PHP 32,000 (PHP 1,600 per PHP 1,000,000 of the project value based on Quezon City Revenue Code)
24 Apply for electricity connection at Manila Electric Company (Meralco)

The electric company is Meralco. The company visits Meralco to request the connection and submit the CFEI and electrical plans. Meralco conducts an inspection of the warehouse and in the following days the technical staff visits the site for the electricity connection.
1 day No cost
25 Receive inspection for electricity connection from Meralco


1 day No cost
26 Obtain electricity connection from Meralco


56 days PHP 564,490 (PHP 35,000 for poles + PHP 334,400 for two 75 kVA transformers + PHP 44,000 for dressings + PHP 6,700 for guying + PHP 144,390 for security deposit)
* 27 Apply for water and sewage connection at Maynilad Water Services, Inc. (Maynilad) or Manila Water Company, Inc. (Manila Water)

There are two private water providers for Quezon City. Maynilad services the west zone and Manila Water services the east zone. The company visits the water company to request the connection and pays PHP 7,455 for Maynilad or PHP 6,855 for Manila Water. Inspection takes place within a week and the connection is effected some days after the inspection. The case study assumes that the company will request water from Manila Water as this is the option favorable to the company.
1 day No cost
* 28 Receive inspection for water and sewage connection from Maynilad or Manila Water


1 day No cost
* 29 Obtain water and sewage connection from Maynilad or Manila Water


21 days PHP 6,855
* 30 Obtain telephone connection from the telephone company

There are four telephone companies providing landline services in Quezon City. The cost is PHP 1,500 for Philippine Long Distance Co. (PLDT), PHP 749 for Bayantel and PHP 2,500 for Digitel. Globelines requires proof of financial capability but does not charge any fee. There is a lock-in period of 12 months for PLDT and Globelines, and 30 months for Digitel. Bayantel offers no lock-in period for regular phone line. The case study assumes that the company will request services from Globelines as this is the option favorable to the company.
5 days No cost
* 31 Apply for the tax declaration of improvement at the City Assessor's Office (CAO)

The company must update its official records to include the newly built warehouse for tax purposes. The OBO furnishes the CAO with a copy of the building plan and Certificate of Occupancy to notify them of the new building construction. The company must submit the floor plan and as-built plan to the CAO.
1 day No cost
* 32 Receive inspection from the Appraiser of CAO


1 day No cost
* 33 Obtain the tax declaration of improvement from the CAO

The tax declaration of improvement is released after an appraiser inspects the property, which can be done on the following day or sometimes even on the same day.
3 days No cost
* Takes place simultaneously with another procedure.
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