Switzerland

Dealing with Construction Permits in

Switzerland

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: CHF 2,212,000
  • City: Zurich

About This Topic

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No. Procedure Time to Complete Associated Costs
1 Obtain fire department approval



Agency: Fire Department
10 days CHF 1,000
2 Obtain construction Permit

The construction permit is issued by the Municipal Building Authority. The company must submit the situation plan, plans of the building, and several forms to the Building Authorities.

Agency: Municipal Building Authority
120 days CHF 20,000
3 Receive on-site inspection by the municipal authority



Agency: Municipal Building Authority
1 day no charge
4 Seek approval from utility providers stating that the project will not affect utilities infrastructure (department for waste and recycling)



Agency: Department for waste and recycling
5 days CHF 300
* 5 Seek approval from utility providers stating that the project will not affect utilities infrastructure (department of electric power supply)



Agency: Department of electric power supply
4 days no charge
* 6 Seek approval from utility providers stating that the project will not affect utilities infrastructure (water department)



Agency: Water Department
3 days no charge
* 7 Seek approval from utility providers stating that the project will not affect utilities infrastructure (telecom)



Agency: Swiss Telecom
2 days no charge
8 Obtain sewage connection from the department for waste and recycling



Agency: Department for waste and recycling
10 days CHF 5,000
* 9 Receive sanitary inspection from the department for waste and recycling



Agency: Department for waste and recycling
1 day no charge
* 10 Obtain water connection from the water department



Agency: Department of electric power supply
5 days CHF 2,000
* 11 Obtain phone connection



Agency: Swiss Telecom
1 day CHF 1,500
12 Receive final inspection from the municipal building authority



Agency: Municipal Building Authority
1 day no charge
13 Submit final records of construction project and obtain occupancy permit from the municipal building authority



Agency: Municipal Building Authority
7 days no charge
* Takes place simultaneously with another procedure.