Apply In-Person

1. To apply for a building permit, you should submit your complete application to your Local Authority in your municipality. Please view the local authority contact details via this link: Link
2. Obtain the application form for Building permit from the Local Authority office or download it from their website through this link: Link you can also download the form directly via this link: Link
3. Read and complete the application form carefully and mark the correct boxes for your application since it is a multipurpose form
4. Then obtain the building permit application checklist from the Local Authority office or via their website: Link or directly through this link: Link
5. Then gather and prepare all the required supporting documents and mark them in your checklist form. Note that you will need to seek the assistance of a registered architect/engineer to help you with preparing some of the required documents. e.g., the plans or drawings
6. Visit the council administration building to pay the relevant processing fee and obtain the payment receipt. Planning or Building application fees are calculated based on the area calculated in square meters (M2) and the type of structure to be erected. Besides, there is also a separate site inspection fee.
7. Submit the complete application to the Local Authority office for processing and approval
8. Upon receiving your application, the Local Authority will conduct a due diligence investigation on the proposed site within ten days of receipt of the application and prepare their report on the findings. The inspection will be conducted at an additional fee
9. Then they will circulate the application to the relevant reviewing agencies for their comments and recommendation. The Agencies include: National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) - National Works Agency (NWA) (additional costs related to this review) - Natural Resources Conservation Authority - Environmental Health Unit, Ministry of Health - Water Resources Authority - Mines & Geology Division - Jamaica Fire Brigade - Agricultural Land Management Division (ALMD), MICAF - Office of Disaster Preparedness & Emergency Management (ODPEM) - Other Agencies as may be deemed necessary
10. The agencies will review the application and forward their written comments and recommendations to the Local Authority for review and compilation by their Planning Department
11. The compiled report will be presented to the Monthly Planning Committee Meeting, held by the MC to review the report and make a final approval decision.
12. If approved, you will be notified through the proper communication channel and required to visit the Local Authority office to sign and collect the building permit.
13. If you wish to send an agent to collect the permit on your behalf, you will need to provide them with a letter of authorization, stamped and signed by a Justice of the Peace or a Notary Public.
    

Note:You may check the progress of your application online via AMANDA: Link

• Completed Application Form
• Payment receipt
• Proof of Ownership: Certified Copy of Registered Title, Certified Copy of Will, Certified Copy of Sales Agreement, Certified Copy of Deed of Gift/Conveyance. If you are not the owner of the land, a Letter of Authorization from the owner, stamped and signed by a Justice of the Peace or a Notary Public should be presented.
• Certificate of Tax Payment
• Location Map
• Surveyors Report/Diagram
• Detailed Construction Drawings for proposed development including, Site Plan (showing building layout and footprint, access, and exit), Elevation, section, electrical, sewage, roof, etc. (Where property adjoins the main road two additional sets of plans are required):
  • Single Family Dwelling House:3-4 sets
  • Multi-Family Dwelling House: 4-9 sets
  • Apartment Building: 4-9 sets
  • Commercial Structure: 4-9 sets
  • Change of Use: 4-6 sets
  • Institutional: 4-9 sets
  • Industrial: 4-9 sets
  • Telecommunication:4-9 sets

Notes:

• Consult your Local Planning Authority for required sets of drawings through your Development Application Help Desk.
• Applicants may be asked to submit additional documents
• Refer to the checklist for required documents

Local Authority of Jamaica- Main Office
Tel: (876) 754-0992-9 / (876) 618-1104-8
Email: Communications@Mlge.Gov.Jm
Website: Link
Contact details: Link

• All individuals and companies are eligible to obtain a building permit before commencing the building process

• Single Family Dwelling Unit: $120 / sq. m
• Apartments / Multi – Family: $190 / sq. m
• Commercial (Shops, Offices, Warehouses, Cinemas, etc): $190 / sq. m
• Hotels, Guesthouses, Motels, Bed & Breakfast, etc: $280 / sq. m
• Church / School / Hospital / Day Care: $190 / sq. m
• Temporary Structure: 1/2 rate of a permanent structure
• Card Fee: $200
• Drainage Inspection Fee: $1,000
• Inspection Fees: $4,500
• Over 2 storeys: $1,500 per storey
• Any other visits required: $3,000
• Copy of Building Permit & Conditions: $2,000
• Appeals: $5,000
• Research: $3,000
• Letters: $500

• Building Permits are only valid for six months after the date of issuance. If you do not intend to build within the initial six months after approval has been issued, take the plans back to the Municipal Corporation (MC) and get them revalidated at a fee of 10% of the original building fee
• You can only revalidate a permit for two years, that is 4 times and after that, a new plan has to be submitted.

• Application form: Link

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

• The processing time is approximately eight weeks (for residential single-family buildings), however other departments and agency approvals may affect the timeline.

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications.
Attach videos using the following tag <&video type='website'>video ID|width|height<&/video&> from external websites.
Please remove the '&' inside the tags during implementation.
Website = allocine, blip, dailymotion, facebook, gametrailers, googlevideo, html5, metacafe, myspace, revver,
sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
width = 560, height = 340, Video ID = Can be obtained from the URL of webpage where the video is displayed.
e.gIn the following url 'http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M' Video ID is 'Y0US7oR_t3M'.

Once you obtain the building permit:

• Commence construction within six months of the issuance of the permit or it shall lapse.
• Contact the appropriate departments to carry out the inspections during the course of construction.
• Keep a copy of the plans and permits on-site.

If your application has been refused, the Municipal Corporation will:

• Write a notification letter to you stating the reason/s for refusal and guide you through the process that you can take to appeal this decision.
• If the appeal process is unsuccessful, they will give you a refund not exceeding 50% of the total fees payable.

Prior to submitting for Planning Approvals, the Municipal Corporation offers a walk-in “Pre-Check” service.  This allows you to bring in one set of your drawings/plans for review and comments prior to your full submission. They will also guide you on how to submit your subsequent detailed application.

• Type of application
• Applicant details
• Professional information
• Property’s legal information
• Type of Development
• Nature of Development
• Declaration

• A building permit proves that you have been legally authorized to proceed with the construction of a building.

• Anyone who is found to be building without a permit may be issued a stop notice requesting the immediate cessation of workuntil the plan is submitted, approved and a permit is issued.
• if a building is found to be in breach of the building permit law and the developer has subsequently submitted the plans, the fees will be doubled.
• when a stop of construction and enforcement notice is issued and you have disobeyed, you will be taken to court and a fine of up to one million dollars can be imposed.
• if the development continues, five thousand dollars per day is imposed as a fine and in the event of a conviction, your property can be forfeited to the crown.

Please explain what are other uses of obtaining this document/certificate.
e.g. Birth Certificate can be used as proof of identity.

• Government of Jamaica: Link

More information which might help people.