PROCEDURE & PROCESSES OF OBTAINING GCMA BUILDING PERMIT

A ny person or organization which intends to commence with the construction of a building whether for residential or for other purposed in the Ga Central Municipal Assembly area of jurisdiction must obtain a building permit. This is to ensure, among other things, that the proposed project conforms with the building regulations and development control guidelines.The processes involved are, however, nuclear and cumbers one leading to unnecessary delays in obtaining a permitThis page provides specific information on the requirements and procedure which are specific to the Ga Central Municipal Assembly to enable the developer obtain a building permit in a timely and efficient manner.It is intended to serve as a practical guide, with clear and simple procedures to both the customer/ client and officials of the Ga Central Municipal Assembly to enhance transparency and trust in the building permitting system.
 

Stage 1
 BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL BUILDING DEVELOPMENTS
 Every applicant/developer is required to have the following
 Building Permit Application Form
 Town & Country Planning Development Application Form 1
 Two (2) sets of site plans(one on transparency)
 Four (4) sets of building fence and block plans
 4 sets of working drawings
 Certificates/ official letter or search on status of land (lands Commission or Land Title Registry)
 5 self addressed envelopes

 TYPES OF DEVELOPMENTS
 Schools, Hotels/Restaurants, Places of Worship. Buildings, Factories, Hospitals, Residential Buildings, Offices, Shops, Underground Structures, Pylons, Car Parks, Amusement Parks and others.

 DO I NEED TO SUBMIT ANY ADDITIONAL REPORTS
 If your development is a multi-storey structure of complex you many have to provide reports such as, Environmental Impact Assessment Report, Structural Report, Fire Service Report, Hydro Report, Geological Riper or Traffic Management Report. You are to contact the Municipal Works Department, GCMA, or relevant agencies or consultants for advice and assistance.

 Stage 2
 COMPLETION OF FORMS
 Complete in full the Building Permit Application Form and the Town & Country Planning Development Application Form 1

 Stage 3
 SUBMISSION OF FORMS
 Submit completed Development application & the Building Permit Application forms with all necessary attachments to the desk officers at the Town and country Planning Department (TCPD) any day.
 On submission you shall be informed of Corrections to be made or additions if any Date for site inspection
 The procession fee(obtain an official receipt)

 Stage 4
 PROCESSING
 Thereafter the Joint Technical Sub-Committee undertakes site inspection with the application(s) prospective developer(s) on the agreed date.
 Relevant GCMA departments and agencies undertake preliminary assessment of applications and submit report to the Joint Technical Sub-Committee within ten (10) working days

 Stage 5
 NOTIFICATION FOR PAYMENT
 Application notified when to pay building permit fees:
 List of names will be posted on the notice boards of the following offices
 Head offices GCMA
 TCPD (GCMA)
 Municipal Works Department GCMA
 Or if requested by registered mail to the applicant within fourteen(14) days of site inspection

 Stage 6
 PAYMENT OF BUILDING PERMIT FEES
 Applicant/developer pays building permit fees at the Municipal Works Department of the GCMA only. The payment receipt is not a building permit certificate
 Note: refusal to make payment within (28) twenty-eight working days indicates loss of interest. The process is re-activated when the applicant settles the appropriate bill. Applicants will bear the cost for re-inspection.

 Stage 7
 FINAL APPROVAL
 The Planning Authority meets for final approval of application within nine (9) working days after Joint Technical Sub-Committee evaluation meeting.
  Applicants notified of decision by the Planning committee within ten(10) working days of meeting

Stage 8
 ISSUE OF BUILDING PERMIT & COLLECTION
 Applicant collects building permit certificate form the Municipal Works Department duly signed by the Municipal Engineer within ten (10) working days of receipt of approval .

CAUTION
 Act 462 provides that any unauthorized structure of structures attached to premises shall be demolished or removed on notice by GCMA
 Receipts issued for processing fees are not building permits.
 Any such development shall be considered unauthorized and liable to demolition/removal by GCMA
 Building becomes illegal if it does not conform with what is on the approved plan
 Any applicant who makes a false declaration does so at his/her own risk

 GENERAL INFORMATION
 It is important to note that the validity of a Building Permit issued in accordance with the above process is five years
 Developers are therefore required to seek renewal of Building Permit if development is not completed within five (5) years.