Botswana - Apply for Certificate of Occupancy

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Procedure

Apply In Person

1. The application for a Certificate of Occupancy for various development (single-family residential, multifamily residential, commercial, industrial, Civic and Community), shall be made to the relevant local authority office. Local Authority Offices Contact Details
2. The application shall be made in writing in such as manner as determined by the authority. The customer or authorized agent should submit the relevant supporting documentation as mentioned under the “Required Documents” section of this page, to the relevant local authority office, where the development is situated. Any omission of these documents will render the application process incomplete.
3. For Multi-Family Residential, applicants must first apply for planning permission from the local authority.
4. Upon submission, the application is checked for completeness and correctness by the receiving officer, if everything is in order the applicant will be required to pay a prescribed Perusal fee. Fees vary from one local authority to the other.
5. The application will only be registered to be processed, when payment of the perusal fee has been made, the applicant will be issued with an acknowledgment slip that proves submission of the application file and for inquiry referencing if the need arises.
6. The application file will be forwarded to the relevant local authority or town and country planning board for processing and consideration, before an occupation permit can be issued, inspections must be carried out at different stages of construction as outlined in the building permit.
7. After processing the application, a notice of the decision (Approval, Deferral, or Rejection) for the application will be communicated to the client in writing within eight (8) weeks.
8. If approved, the Certificate of Occupancy is drawn up and made available to be issued to the client against their identity card, approval letter, and payment slip at the specific local authority office where the application was lodged.

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Required Documents

Applications must submit to the 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
• Ground levels (applicable in urban areas)

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)
• Ground levels (Urban areas)

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 customers must submit as per multifamily residential.

Office Locations & Contacts

Ministry of Local Development and Rural Development
Private Bag 006
Government EnclaveMain MallGaborone
Botswana
Tel. (+267) 365-8400
Fax. 395 2382
Toll-free: 0800-600-718
Ministry Contact Details
Local Authority Offices Contact Details
Opening hours: 07:30 to 16:30, Monday to Friday, except public holidays

Eligibility

• All development (single-family residential, multifamily residential, commercial, industrial, Civic and Community), in Botswana‘s planning areas is eligible to apply.

Fees

• Please consult the local authority as the Perusal fee varies from one local authority to the other.

Validity

• An occupation permit is valid for the habitable life of the building.

Documents to Use

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Sample Documents

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Processing Time

• Successful applicants will be awarded their certificate within eight (8) weeks of application submission, provided that the applicants have submitted all the necessary information requested by the Authority for evaluation purposes.

Related Videos

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications.
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Instructions

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Required Information

• Full names of the applicant
• Contact details
• Residential address of the development
• Type of development (single-family residential, multi-family residential, commercial, industrial, Civic and Community)
• Building permit details
• Declaration by the applicant

Need for the Document

• A certificate of occupancy is a document issued by a local government agency or building department certifying a building's compliance with applicable building codes and other laws, and indicating it to be in a condition suitable for occupancy.
• The purpose of obtaining a certificate of occupancy is to prove that, according to the law, the house or building is in liveable condition. Generally, such a certificate is necessary to be able to occupy the structure for everyday use, as well as to be able to sign a contract to sell the space and close on a mortgage for the space.

Information which might help

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Other uses of the Document/Certificate

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e.g. Birth Certificate can be used as proof of identity.

External Links

Ministry of Local Development and Rural Development

Others

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