Dealing with Construction Permits in
Togo
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.
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Building a warehouse
-
Estimated Warehouse Value:
XOF 260,120,000
- City: Lomé
| No. |
Procedure |
Time to Complete |
Associated Costs |
| 1 |
Obtain certified copy of the title deed
|
2 days
|
XOF 500
|
| 2 |
Obtain certification of architectural plans from the National Order of Architects (Ordre National des Architects)
Every construction project must employ an architect registered with the National Association of Architects (Ordre National des Architects, ONAT). The architect submits the construction application under his or her name to the municipality. Usually the architect is hired for each project, but if the construction company has a licensed architect as a regular employee, that architect can complete this task. In that case, however, the file with all the documentation must be submitted to the ONAT, which provides a certificate stating that the architect is licensed. This has been common practice for the last 6 years.
Agency: National Order of Architects
|
3 days
|
XOF 150,000
|
| 3 |
Obtain construction license from the Communal Authorities (Mairie)
The following are the key parts of the construction license application (PC) (5–6 copies required): - An application signed by the project architect. - Land title or administrative certificate: copies of any document justifying property right or authorizing the company to do the construction work. - Plans for the property: situation plan, area plan, and warehouse plan. This application is submitted to provincial offices if construction is being done outside the capital, Lome. Internal procedures within the Communal Authorities are the following: 1. Transmission of the file to the Land Registry (Service du cadastre) for checking conformity of the plot plan with the general plans at the Land Registry. This first approval consists of a signature and the seal on all the documents of the Directorate General of Land Registry (Direction Générale du Cadastre). 2. Transmission of the file to the Directorate General of City Planning and Habitat (Direction générale de la planification urbaine et de l’habitat, DGUH) for checking conformity of the property plan with area plans and compliance with city planning regulations related to the zone. This second approval consists of a signature and seal on all the documents in the file of the Directorate General of City Planning and Habitat (DGUH). 3. Transmission of the file to the Department of Public Works (Direction Générale des Travaux publics, DGTP) for checking concrete and structural designs. In the case of a warehouse or other complex building, structural design plans are an integral part of the file. For simpler projects, like a house, such plans are not required. This third approval consists of a signature and the seal on all the documents of the Directorate General of Public Works (DGTP). 4. Transmission of the file to the Sanitation Administration (Service d’Hygiene) for an examination of the proposed sanitation system: septic tank and sumps or connection to the city sewer network in certain areas. Here, some special plans may also be warranted. This fourth approval consists of a signature and the seal on all the documents in the file of the Sanitation Administration. 5. Return of the file to the Urban Roads Administration (Voirie) for calculation of the cost of construction and a license based on the total built surface. 6. Communication of the construction license cost to the customer and collection of fees (Voirie). 7. Transmission to City Hall for final signature on the construction license (or district office having submitted the file)—the Communal Services of Lome or district office. 8. Return to the Urban Roads Administration (Voirie) for handing over to the customer (Voirie). 9. For industrial projects, an intermediate stage may be required. The Urban Roads Administration (Voirie) could request the opinion of the Ministry of Industry or the Free Trade Zone Administration (SAZOF). Construction work must start within 6 months from the date of issuance of the license. Otherwise, it is void.
Agency: Urban Roads Administration (Voirie) - Lome City Hall
|
185 days
|
XOF 130,000
|
| 4 |
Receive inspection from the municipal authority
Inspections are carried out by the municipal authority to check whether the project has been granted a building permit. There could be several inspections, but this is a rarely the case.
|
1 day
|
no charge
|
| 5 |
Apply for water connection
BuildCo must pay a fee of CFA1,180 to the Société Togolaise des Eaux (TdE) for the request to obtain water connection. After the study of the dossier, BuildCO will pay an additional connection fee.
The situation plan (plan de situation) must the submitted. It is necessary to physically go to the Togolese Water Supply Company (TDE) to request the water connection.
Agency: Togolese Water Supply Company (TdE)
|
1 day
|
XOF 1,180
|
| 6 |
Togolese Water Supply Company (TDE) carries out a site visit and prepares an estimate for water connection
Work can continue before and after the inspection.
Agency: Togolese Water Supply Company (TdE)
|
1 day
|
no charge
|
| 7 |
Obtain water connection
Agency: Togolese Water Supply Company (TdE)
|
84 days
|
XOF 150,000
|
| * 8 |
Apply for sewage connection
Agency: Togo Electricity Company (Togo Electricité)
|
1 day
|
no charge
|
| 9 |
Togolese Water Supply Company (TDE) carries out a site visit and prepares an estimate for sewage connection
Agency: General Directorate of Hydraulics (Direction Générale de l’Hydraulique)
|
1 day
|
no charge
|
| 10 |
Obtain sewage connection
Only a few streets in Lome have a sewerage system. For BuildCo, therefore, a septic tank would be installed. For one employee working in the warehouse, the septic tank would cost XOF 425,000. No additional authorizations are needed to build a septic tank.
Agency: Togolese Water Supply Company (TdE)
|
28 days
|
XOF 1,500,000
|
| * 11 |
Obtain fixed telephone line
A completed form and the company documentation must be submitted. It is necessary to go in person to Togo Telecom to request a telephone connection.
Agency: Togo Telecom (Togo Télécom)
|
30 days
|
XOF 120,000
|
| * 12 |
Obtain occupancy permit
A request for an occupancy permit (Demande de permis d’habitation) must be submitted to the municipality, along with the final building plans. This procedure is necessary for subsequent payment of taxes.
Agency: City Hall (Mairie)
|
7 days
|
no charge
|
* Takes place simultaneously with another procedure.