Construction Permits for Building a Warehouse in South Africa

The Doing Business project measures and compares regulations relevant to businesses in 189 economies. They compiled a detailed summary of the time, cost and procedures that go into building a warehouse in South Africa.

Important Procedures

Fire safety approval

All non-residential buildings need to be approved by the Fire Department before applying for the construction permit.

Find out more information regarding fire protection advice and assistance.

Water and sewage approval

Before requesting for the Site Development Plan (SDP) and the building plan approval, approval of the plans must be obtained from Johannesburg Water.

Electricity approval

Before requesting for the SDP and the building plan approval, approval of the plans must be obtained by City Power.

Permission to hoard in footway

Read the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality’s Public Road and Miscellaneous By-Laws’s Article 21 (Permission to hoard in footway) page 10 – 11.

Submit above approvals and get the SDP

Once all the above approvals are obtained, the architect needs to submit the approvals to the Towns Planning Department at the Municipality. Thereafter the Municipality will review all the above-mentioned approvals and issue the SDP.

Building plans approval

The architect needs to submit the approved SDP and building plans. Once again the plans are sent from the Municipality of Johannesburg’s Office of the building permit to all agencies that stamped the SDP to be checked, approved and stamped.

Notification of building work

Notify the provincial director at least 7 days before you carry out any construction work. See Construction Regulations, Article 4.

Notification of commencement of building work

Send notification of building work commencement to the Johannesburg Municipality to be in accordance with The National Building Regulations Act 103/19.

Receive inspection

The Department of Labour is entitled to visit your building site during the construction; this is in accordance with the Construction Regulations. This inspection is to ensure that the construction site is suitable for workers on site.

Receive inspection of all foundation trenches

This should be done by the Municipal Building Inspectorate before the concrete is placed.

Wastewater drainage systems inspection

This should be done before closing up by the Municipal Building Inspectorate.

Submit certificate of compliance

Submit an official certificate of compliance for plumbing and sewage to a registered plumber/ municipality.

Submit notification of building work completion

According to the National Building Regulations Act 103/19, the registered construction work supervisor must submit a certificate of completion to the Municipal Building Inspectorate stating:

·         All inspections were performed during construction

·         Structural works were accomplished according to approved plans

Receive final inspection

Before you can obtain the occupational certificate, a final inspection by the Johannesburg Municipality must be performed.

Inspection by the Fire Department

The City of Johannesburg Fire Department needs to visit and make sure that the site plan approved in procedure 1 has been implemented.

Get occupancy certificate

After the final inspection by the municipal authorities has been completed, the certificate is issued by the Johannesburg Municipality. This certificate certifies that the building complies with all national and municipal building regulations.

Apply for water and sewage connection

This can be done through the Municipal Building Inspectorate.

Receive inspection

Inspection to be received from Johannesburg Water. An official will visit the property before quoting on a connection fee; this will happen after the water connection application has been processed.

Finally, receive water connection

Once the certificate of compliance has been submitted to the Municipal Building Inspectorate, you may receive water connection.

You may also want to read: How to Cut Construction Costs.

Sources:

http://www.joburg.org.za/bylaws/road_by-laws.pdf

http://www.doingbusiness.org/data/exploreeconomies/south-africa/dealing-with-construction-permits/

https://www.ensafrica.com/news/review-of-the-new-Construction-Regulations-2014-as-part-of-the-Occupational-Hea?Id=1377&STitle=mine%20and%20occupational%20health%20and%20safety%20newsflash