Building and Development Permits

Permit by law is mandatory and compulsory for every citizen of Ghana to acquire either a Development Permit or a Planning permit; Land Use and Spatial Planning Act 2016, Act (925), Section 113, —Section 117, —Section 119.

PLANNING PERMIT

Physical Developments that require a planning permit include the following

  1. Temporary structures
  2. Temporary activities that require the use of public space
  3. Demolition
  4. Advertisement
  5. Change of use
  6. Consolidation
  7. Subdivision
  8. Hoarding
  9. Mining like sand winning, quarrying, and minerals extraction
  10. Disposal of industrial waste or chemical waste on land
  11. Excavation
  12. Change in colour schemes
  13. Tree removal

—Development Permit

A Development Permit comprises both a Planning Permission and Building permission as prescribed by Regulation 45(3) of LI 2384.

Physical developments that require Development Permit shall include the following:

  1. The erection of any building or structure except those exempted by law;
  2. The making of structural alteration or transformation or a renovation to a building;
  3. Execution of works or installation of nay fittings in a building;
  4. Civil and engineering works
  5. Hoarding of a property;
  6. Regularization of existing structures; and
  7. Redevelopment.

Requirements for Permit/Checklist

ItemQuantity
—Allocation Chit/Note3 Copies
Certified Extract Site Plan3 Copies
Architectural/Structural drawing booklets4 Copies
—Landscape master plan1 Copy
Commercial stores 5 and above, Worship, Petrol Filling Station (PFS), Ware house, Washing bay etc. –   Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) permit and Fire permit3 Copies
Requirements for Permit/Checklist

Process of acquiring Development and Planning Permits

Step

Duration

Submission of Application

Acknowledge receipt in 7 days

Vetting

  

 Collation of Technical Findings

Within 14 days

Site inspection

  

Technical Consideration by Technical Sub Committee

Within 21 days

Technical Consideration by Spatial Planning Committee

Within 30 days – Reg. 44 (10)

Processing

  

Benefits of permit

  • —Orderliness of Development
  • —Well defined roads
  • —Easy access to utility services; e.g. water and electricity
  • —Due compensation
  • Personal loan
  • Free from illegal demolition
  • —Fulfilment of civic responsibility