Dealing with Construction Permits in
South Africa
Below is a detailed summary of the procedures, time and costs to build a warehouse in South Africa. This includes obtaining necessary licenses and permits, completing required notifications and inspections and obtaining utility connections.
This information 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 185 economies. The most recent round of data collection was completed in June 2012. Read the methodology.
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Estimated Warehouse Value:
ZAR 6,503,000
- City: Johannesburg
| No. |
Procedure |
Time to Complete |
Associated Costs |
| 1 |
Submit site development/ building plans to Municipality for approval
Three copies of all plans are circulated internally among several departments within the municipality (usually zoning, water, structural, land survey, drainage/sewage, fire, and health departments). Site development plans may be approved first, which allows the company to start preliminary work on site. Building plans are usually approved by the time the site is ready for construction. The approved plans are returned to the company with all forms required in the future attached: notification of excavation, concrete work (if applicable), plumbing/sewage, and electrical work.
The cost is determined by the municipality based on a sliding scale. The company has the option to call beforehand and request an estimate in about 1 -- 2 days. By law, the time limit for plan approval is 30 days, but the municipality commonly extends the time, so the procedure can take up to 3 months to complete.
Agency: Municipality
|
90 days
|
ZAR 14,006
|
| * 2 |
Submit copy of building plans to TELKOM to apply for telephone connection
TELKOM reviews the plans and marks its requirements and where the connection is to be made. The application states when the service is required. This procedure can be done simultaneously with the previous one.
Agency: Telkom SA Limited
|
20 days
|
ZAR 600
|
| * 3 |
Submit occupational health and safety plan
Agency: Municipality
|
7 days
|
no charge
|
| * 4 |
Pay road repair deposit
BuildCo must pay a deposit in case any damage is done to public roads during construction.
|
30 days
|
ZAR 1,500
|
| 5 |
Submit notification of completion of excavation/ foundation work
A notification form is attached to the approved plans.
Agency: Municipal Building Inspectorate
|
1 day
|
no charge
|
| 6 |
Receive inspection of excavation and foundations work
Agency: Municipal Building Inspectorate
|
1 day
|
no charge
|
| 7 |
Submit notification of completion of sewage/ plumbing work
Agency: Municipal Building Inspectorate
|
1 day
|
no charge
|
| 8 |
Receive inspection of sewage and plumbing
This inspection takes place before closing up.
Agency: Municipal Building Inspectorate
|
1 day
|
no charge
|
| 9 |
Submit certificate of compliance (plumbing, sewage)
The company is required to submit an official certificate, issued by a registered plumber, confirming that the plumbing work has been completed according to the applicable legislation and standards. Self-certification is done by a certified professional.
Agency: Municipality
|
1 day
|
no charge
|
| 10 |
Apply for water and sewerage connection
The service should not be provided until the certificate of compliance has been submitted. This procedure can be done simultaneously with the previous one.
Agency: Municipal Building Inspectorate
|
30 days
|
ZAR 1,350
|
| * 11 |
Obtain telephone connection
This procedure can be done simultaneously with previous ones.
Agency: Telkom SA Limited
|
1 day
|
ZAR 1,650
|
| 12 |
Receive final inspection by municipal authorities
The inspection is a prerequisite to obtaining the occupational certificate. Usually a preliminary inspection could have taken place shortly before construction is completed, in which case the final inspection is just a formality. Obtaining the occupational certificate would be issued after this process.
Agency: Municipality
|
1 day
|
no charge
|
| 13 |
Obtain Occupational Certificate
This certificate is issued after the final inspection by the municipal authorities has been carried out and certifies that the building complies with the national and municipal building regulations.
Agency: Municipality
|
1 day
|
no charge
|
* Takes place simultaneously with another procedure.
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