Dealing with Construction Permits in
Trinidad and Tobago
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:
TTD 8,000,000
- City: Port of Spain
| No. |
Procedure |
Time to Complete |
Associated Costs |
| 1 |
Obtain cadastral sheet (location map)
The Land and Surveys Division of the Ministry of Agriculture, Land, and Marine Resources provides vertical and horizontal survey control services to land surveyors and engineers. This service provides professionals with the coordinates required to perform cadastral, geodetic and topographical surveys, and location maps. BuildCo must obtain a location map in order to obtain an outline planning permission.
Agency: Land and Surveys Division of the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Marine Resources
|
1 day
|
no charge
|
| 2 |
Obtain outline planning permission
Outline approval should be obtained first, before an application for full planning permission is submitted. Outline approval informs an applicant whether or not the type of development proposed is consistent with land use policy and provides overall development standards applicable to the site. Submission of an outline application reduces the risk of unnecessary expense in the preparation of plans and technical drawings for a development that may not be approved.
To obtain outline approval, BuildCo must submit the following documents to the regional office responsible for the area concerned:
- Two copies of the completed “outline application form” (TCP/3).
- Two copies of a location sketch with sufficient information for the site to be clearly and positively identified by a field officer. Information such as the plot number, postal address, number of the nearest light pole or mile mark, prominent landmark, culvert, and other similar information, are useful on location sketches.
- The numbered cadastral sheet on which the site is located (if available) and information on how to obtain a cadastral sheet (map of the location).
- A copy of the deed or oldest and latest tenancy receipt, and survey plan relating to the parcel of land to be developed.
An application form (TCP/3) can be obtained online or from the nearest regional office. Detailed plans and drawings are not required at this stage.
An acknowledgement slip is issued to the applicant when the application form is submitted. The Development Control Inspector from the Town and Country Planning Division visits the site to collect information pertaining to the application. Then an evaluation and report are attached to the application and submitted for consideration. A notice of grant of approval or refusal of outline planning permission is prepared and sent by mail to the applicant. Outline approval can be obtained within a 2-month period.
Agency: Town and Country Planning Division of the Ministry of Planning and Development
|
60 days
|
no charge
|
| * 3 |
Receive inspection to receive outline planning permission
Agency: Town and Country Planning Division of the Ministry of Planning and Development
|
1 day
|
no charge
|
| 4 |
Obtain approval of sewerage and water project from the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA)
The New Services Department administers the approval of water and wastewater services to new buildings and developments.
Agency: Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA)
|
35 days
|
TTD 1,100
|
| * 5 |
Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) inspects the construction site to prepare an estimate for connection
The Water and Sewerage Authority, (WASA), inspects the site to prepare an estimate of the connection costs.
Agency: Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA)
|
1 day
|
no charge
|
| 6 |
Obtain approval from the Fire Department
Agency: Fire Department
|
30 days
|
no charge
|
| 7 |
Obtain full planning permission
Planning permission must be obtained from the Town and Country Planning Division of the Ministry of Planning and Development before any development of land is undertaken.
For full planning permission, applicants are required to deliver the following documents to the regional office responsible for the area concerned:
- Four copies of the completed application form for permission to develop land (TCP/1).
- Four copies of a location sketch with sufficient information for the site to be clearly and positively identified by a field officer. Information such as the plot number, postal address, number of the nearest light pole, mark of the nearest mile post, prominent landmark, culvert and other similar information, are useful on location sketches.
- Four copies of all plans and drawings that describe the proposed development (as applicable). All drawings are to be drawn at an appropriate scale for legibility and easy handling.
- Location and site plan showing the north sign.
- Floor plans and foundation plans.
- Elevations and sections.
- Structural drawings.
- Isometric drawings (for sewered buildings).
- Electrical drawings (for nonresidential buildings).
-Two copies of the completed application form for the utilization of land (LHA-2), which should be forwarded to the local authority. These forms can be obtained from the municipal corporation responsible for the area concerned.
An acknowledgement slip will be issued when the application form is submitted. The Development Control Inspector from the Town and Country Planning Division visits the site to collect information pertaining to the application. Then an evaluation and report are attached to the application and submitted for consideration. The applicant is notified by mail within a 2-month period whether full planning permission has been granted.
Full planning permission may be granted unconditionally, or may be subject to specified conditions. Where planning permission is subject to conditions or refused, the reasons for the decision taken are included in a Notice of Determination. Failure to provide proper information will result in the application being returned to the applicant undetermined.
It is possible for several applications for different types of development to be submitted for one property, and get approved. Each of these planning permissions remains valid, unless otherwise specified, and in principle a developer may choose the one(s) they intend to implement.
The statutory period to respond the applicants TCP Act is within 2 months. This deadline is not usually observed.
Agency: Town and Country Planning Division of the Ministry of Planning and Development
|
90 days
|
no charge
|
| * 8 |
Receive inspection to obtain full planning permission
Before issuing the full planning permission the Development Control Inspectors do the first check on the site – if they find something strange they would tell the planner and do a joint inspection.
The Regional Corporations monitor construction development. BuildCo should notify when construction has started.
Agency: Regional Corporation
|
1 day
|
no charge
|
| 9 |
Receive on-site inspection
Authorities inspect the site every few months.
Agency: Town and Country Planning Division of the Ministry of Planning and Development
|
1 day
|
no charge
|
| 10 |
Receive on-site inspection
Authorities inspect the site every few months.
Agency: Town and Country Planning Division of the Ministry of Planning and Development
|
1 day
|
no charge
|
| 11 |
Notify Regional Corporation of the completion of construction
BuildCo notifies the Town and Country Planning Division once it completes construction of the warehouse so that it may be inspected.
Agency: Regional Corporation
|
1 day
|
no charge
|
| 12 |
Receive final inspection from the Regional Corporation
The Regional Corporation inspects the site and sends the certificate to BuildCo.
Agency: Regional Corporation
|
1 day
|
no charge
|
| 13 |
Receive inspection and final approval from the Fire Department
Agency: Fire Department
|
1 day
|
TTD 200
|
| 14 |
Obtain building completion certificate
The supervising department verifies whether the project is completed according to the specifications.
Agency: Town and Country Planning Division of the Ministry of Planning and Development
|
14 days
|
TTD 1,000
|
| * 15 |
Obtain water and sewage connection
For the drawings' submission the company would need a licensed plumber to submit the documents. The plumber does not have any other specific tasks except that they have to show up and submit the plans, many times they don’t even draw them themselves.
Agency: Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA)
|
60 days
|
TTD 2,927
|
| 16 |
Obtain water and sewage completion certificate
Agency: Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA)
|
1 day
|
no charge
|
| * 17 |
Obtain telephone line
Agency: Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission (T&TEC)
|
14 days
|
TTD 200
|
* Takes place simultaneously with another procedure.