Are you searching for the requirements for getting building approval for your plan in Lagos? Search no more because we’ve got you covered.
It is a very demoralizing experience to wake up to your real estate marked for demolition by the government. Sometimes you are not given a way out; therefore, you only watch your investment demolished.
Observers are often quick to blame the government and insinuate things, but it isn’t always true. Most times, the property deserves to be marked or demolished.
Note that not all properties marked are demolished. Some can be marked with a restraining order for a seizure of work. In this case, the property owner may not have fulfilled all obligations. These unfulfilled obligations could be not submitting the necessary documents or getting clearance from the right agency. The property will not be demolished if the owner does the needful.
There is an outright marking of property for demolition. In this situation, the chances of the property escaping demolition are very slim. This occurs mostly when the property has been illegally acquired or the land is not free.
A free land is land that isn’t mapped out for government use, such as for the construction of roads, hospitals, schools, recreational centers, etc.
So, when a property is not situated on free land, then the property is bound to be demolished either now or in the future. This has been the case for many property owners in Lagos due to negligence or ignorance while purchasing a property. Sometimes the demolition can take years after purchasing a property.
But the good news is that this kind of incident can be avoided. Some of the best ways to avoid it are by carrying out due diligence before purchasing a property. Also, by applying for building approval,
What is a Building Approval (Permit)?
Building approvals, also known as building permits, are documents approving the construction, remodeling, or renovation of a property. A building permit is required if you are making any form of major construction, such as building afresh from scratch or remodeling or renovating an already existing property.
Obtaining building approval helps prevent avoidable mistakes. Building approvals are issued by the land planning agency. In Lagos State, the documents are issued by the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LSPPPA). They are the ones to tell you if you should or shouldn’t build. Every building approval plan in Lagos must pass through this body.
The agency is in charge of checking your structural, electrical, mechanical, etc. architecture to ensure that it is suitable for the location.
Many do not know that the fact that you own the land doesn’t mean you can build whatever you desire. Things are allowed in each area based on the master plan. For example, in Ibeju-Lekki, you can’t build high-rise structures because of the proposed airport.
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Therefore, when it comes to building in Lagos, obtaining building approval for your plan will save you a lot of headaches.
Steps to Take Before Applying for a Building Approval in Lagos
Before applying for building approval for your plan in Lagos and Nigeria at large, you must take the following basic steps: These steps are crucial steps one should take before building, remodeling, or renovating a property.
Below are the important things you must do before you apply for a building permit in Lagos.
Verify the Authenticity of the Property
There is no need to go on with other steps if the property isn’t authentic. The first is to verify the authenticity of the property. To do this, you need to investigate the property. Investigating a property involves asking for its documents.
In this case, you should check the land title, the survey plan, etc. Also, the documents must be verified with the State Ministry of Lands.
If the property is an ancestry property and therefore hasn’t been registered with the Ministry of Lands, you should still investigate it.
Some of the ways to investigate the authenticity of ancestry or community lands are by asking the locals. You should engage the community members and the leadership. By doing so, you will know if the land is authentic.
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Conduct a Soil Test
After verifying that the land is authentic, you should test the soil. Soil testing is the study of soil by a geologist. A geologist will drill a borehole on the land and take different soil samples for testing.
Soil testing would enable you to understand the kind of structure that is best suitable for the land. Some of the time, buildings collapse because the land wasn’t tested before commencing construction.
Every land has its capacity and what it would be best for, and that is what soil testing reveals.
Engage Architect
Now you have tested the soil, and with the result, you should proceed to an architect. It is time to get an architect to professionally draw a plan for you. A competent architect will factor in the result of the soil test and your desire in his plan.
Also, you need a detailed plan for your proposed structure before applying for building approval. You should have the architectural, electrical, and mechanical drawings ready.
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Proceeding with the Application for Building Approval Application
Now that you have completed the mentioned steps, the next step is your application for building approval.
There are documents you need to provide for assessment when applying for a building permit in Lagos.
The documents are:
- A title document or proof of ownership
- Survey plan
- As-built architectural, structural, electrical, and mechanical drawings
- Non-destructive integrity test report
- A letter of structural stability indemnity
- A land use planning analysis report
- Evidence of tax compliance and other supporting documents.
These are the major documents you should provide alongside your application for assessment.
Also, note that all applications are not the same. Depending on your situation, can be determined based on the land location, proposed building size, etc., and its purpose. So, you may be required to provide additional or fewer documents. Always confirm what is demanded for your case.
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Conclusion
It is important to get a building approval plan, also known as a building permit, before construction. Getting approval has many benefits; for example, it helps you to abide by the laid-down rules. Also to build according to the state master plan. Building according to the master plan helps you avoid building demolition by the government.
Before you apply for building approval, there are basic steps you should take. We have discussed these steps in this article. Also, there are documents you should submit with your application for assessment. Having the documents handy would help speed up the process and increase your chances of getting approval. In most cases, it takes a maximum of 28 days to process and get a response on your application from the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority.
Do you desire to buy land in Epe, Ibeju-Lekki or Enugu, send a WhatsApp message to +2348134794494