Botswana - Apply for Building and Planning permission

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Procedure

Apply In-Person:

1. One should conduct and visit the town council office or send an agent, within the district that the construction of the building is to take place for consultation and file their application.
2. Fill in the application form accurately ,which is obtained from the local council office countrywide, attach the requirements and submit for verification and processing
3. Perusal fee Payment can be made in cash or bank guaranteed cheque in favour of Council
4. After processing the application you will be notified of the outcome in writing within six to eight weeks depending on the town council.

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Required Documents

Applicant must submit to council the following:
SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL:

• Proof or plot ownership (Title deed or lease)
• 4 copies of architectural and engineering drawings drawn to appropriate scale (Building plans, site plan and location)
• Rates clearance certificate (Urban areas)
• Sewer connection permit
• Perusal fee
• Ground levels (applicable in urban areas)
• Valid Identification document

MULTI FAMILY RESIDENTIAL:

• Proof of plot ownership (Title deed or lease)
• 8 copies of architectural and engineering

DRAWINGS:

• Rates clearance certificate
• Sewer connection permit (Urban areas)
• Perusal fee
• Ground levels (Urban areas)
• Valid identification document
• Letter of indemnity from a Structural Engineer for multi storey building/factory shells.

COMMERCIAL:

• For developments less than 500m3 must submit as per single residential.
• For developments above 500m2 must submit as per multifamily residential.

INDUSTRIAL:

• For developments less than 1000m2 must submit as per single family residential
• For developments above 1000m2 customer must submit as per multifamily residential.

Office Locations & Contacts

Sowa Town Council’s Department of Architecture and Buildings at:
Physical address: Offices 30, 31, 44 or 48
Postal Address: Private Bag Sow1, Sowa
Tel: 6213440, Extn: 254
Toll-free: 0800 600 754
Fax: 6213425
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]

Gaborone City Council, Architecture and Buildings Department
Civic Centre, 330 Independence Avenue, Gaborone, Botswana
Tel: +267 365 7431
+267 365 7531

Francistown City Council (FCC), Architecture and Buildings Department,
Old Mayor's House, Plot No. 439/440/441, Baines Avenue, (opposite Central Park),
Private Bag 0040, Francistown, Botswana
Tel: +267 241 1050
+267 241 2427

Lobatse city Council Architecture and Buildings Department
Civic Centre, Plot No. 1062 – Maokaneng East at 5305855/
Customer Care Help Line (Toll free number) 0800 600 876/
Customer Care Office @ 5330293/ 5330762/5305899

Eligibility

• Citizens and foreigners

Fees

• Application perusal fee differ with different city council

Validity

Explain the time until which the certificate/document is valid.
e.g. Birth Certificate Valid Forever

Documents to Use

Please attach documents that can be used by people. e.g. links

Sample Documents

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Processing Time

• Permit will be issued within 6 to 8 weeks depending on the town council

Related Videos

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.g In the following url 'http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M' Video ID is 'Y0US7oR_t3M'.

Instructions

All development in Botswana‘s planning areas are required by law (Town and Country Planning Act (Cap 32:09) of 1977. Building Control Act (Cap 65:02) of 1995 and associated Acts) to be approved by the relevant local authority or town and country planning board – before an occupation permit can be issued, inspections must be carried out at different stages of constructions as outlined in the building permit.

Required Information

A list which displays the kind of information which is required to complete the procedure.
e.g.
1. Date of Birth.
2. City or County of Birth.

Need for the Document

This service aims at issuing building permit to any person who intends to construct (develop), demolish or alter a building prior to carrying out such works as required by the Building Control Act (cap.65:03).

Information which might help

Application procedures differ for various development (single family residential, multifamily residential, commercial, industrial, Civic and Community)

Other uses of the Document/Certificate

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

External Links

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Others

More information which might help people.