Request and obtain approval for connection to water and sewage and rainwater drainage feasibility from SANAA
Agency: SANAA
The committee responsible for approving conditions of water and sewerage connections (utility company) meets once a week.
Time and cost: 40 days, HNL 42,735
Obtain results of geotechnical study / soil test
Agency: Private licensed company
BuildCo will request a soil test for the structural calculations for the foundation. Contractors ask for a soil test to ensure that the foundation of the building is solid. The engineer must understand the suitability of the soil for the proposed construction work. It allows to build a solid foundation and avoid structures to be damaged or collapsed or leaned. Although a soil test is not required by law, it is consistently conducted in practice.
Time and cost: 26 days, HNL 100,000
Request and obtain environmental approval from Office of Municipal Environmental Development and Management (GMDAM)
Agency: Office of Municipal Environmental Development and Management of Municipality of Tegucigalpa (UMA)
First, BuildCo’s case would be considered by the Office of Municipal Environmental Development and Management. Under a major government initiative, the National Competitiveness Program (Programa Nacional de Competitividad) and the municipality (GMDAM) entered into an agreement with SERNA in 2007.
As of September 4, 2008, the Law on Environment was approved, as well as other implementing regulations. Article 78 of the law introduced criteria for different categories of environmental approvals depending on project risks. Commercial warehouses that fit into Category 1 (Article 5) are only subject to environmental control rather than a full scale study at the local level by the Office of Municipal Environmental Development and Management (‘UGA’ or ‘UMA’).
The cost according to Article 70 of Plan de Arbitrios is 1% of the construction cost of the value up to HNL 200,000 + 0.50% of the construction cost of the value between HNL 200,001 – 1,000,000 + 0.05% of the construction cost of the value that exceeds HNL 1,000,000.
Time and cost: 21 days, HNL 6,892
Obtain results of topographical study
Agency: Private licensed company
A topographical study is conducted prior to construction to measure the levels on the specific terrain. It is a general technical requirement when building a structure of this class.
Time and cost: 11 days, HNL 13,000
Request and obtain approval (constancia) from Public Works Secretary (SOPTRAVI)
Agency: Public Works Secretary (SOPTRAVI)
As part of the Building Permit requisites, BuildCo. also needs to process the public works authorization. In parallel with the water and sewage request, BuildCo. can ask for the approval from the Public Works Secretary (SOPTRAVI). A fee of HNL 300.00 is charged for the approval and a fee of HNL 200.00 for the inspection.
Time and cost: 7 days, HNL 500
Request and obtain design guidelines and approval of drawings and designs from Urban Planning Office
Agency: Urban Planning Office
While asking for the public works authorization, Buildco. must request design guidelines from the Urban Planning Office near the future construction site.
Time and cost: 3 days, HNL 900
Request and obtain location clearances (uso de suelo y factibilidad vial) from the Municipal Authority
Agency: Municipal Authority (Alcaldía Municipal)
The following documents must be presented to obtain a certificate of occupancy (Uso de Suelo y Factibilidad Vial) from the Municipality:
- Application
- Proof of property registration
- Designs and drawings
- Approvals from the SANAA and the ENEE, and others
- Environmental license
The new city zoning plan that was introduced in early 2008 is currently being operationalized. One of the main features of the plan is the change of zoning from residential to commercial and its further digitization based on maps from Cadastre and Management Engineering (Engenieria Gerencial). Furthermore, the land use regulations were amended in April 2008, introducing categories based on risk factors. This led to an improvement in the process of obtaining the location clearance, including a time reduction. The application is checked in the back office to verify whether the new land use is compatible with land use regulations.
Time and cost: 2 days, HNL 150
Request and obtain the Risk Assessment Report from the Risk Evaluation Office
Agency: Risk Evaluation Office (Gerencia de la evaluación de Riesgo)
BuildCo must request and obtain a Risk Assessment Report from the Risk Evaluation Office the Municipality.
The following documentation is required:
- Filled Application form
- Copy of the identity document of the applicant
- Copy of the current Municipal Solvency of the applicant,
- Photocopy of the Public Deed duly registered in the Property Institute
- State of real estate account solvent,
- Location sketch,
- The original version and 4 copies of receipt of report payment.
- Plans: Polygon of the terrain,
- Topographic map before making the design.
Time and cost: 10 days, HNL 400
Request and obtain approval of Fire Safety and Evacuation Plan from Fire Department.
Agency: Fire Department
BuildCo must request and obtain approval of fire Safety and Evacuation Plan from Fire Department. The project of the warehouse must comply with the security standards prescribed by the law. Once the Fire Department approves the Plan, BuildCo can apply for building permit.
Time and cost: 10 days, HNL 5,566
Request and obtain building permit
Agency: Municipal Authority (Alcaldía Municipal)
The permit application documents are reviewed by the Legal Department, the Technical Department, the Professional College, the Environmental Section, and the Chief of Construction Permits. After submitting the permit application and all other required documents, BuildCo pays the application fee at TASA Municipal. Prior to starting construction, BuildCo must notify the authority.
Time and cost: 30 days, HNL 110,551
Receive footings and foundations inspection (“inspección de zapatas y fundaciones”)
Agency: Municipal Authority (Alcaldía Municipal)
According to the 2010 Building Code of Honduras ” Código de Construcción de Honduras” under Section 109, BuildCo is obliged to receive footing and foundations inspection. This inspection should be made after excavations for footings are complete and all reinforcing steel are in place. “Las inspecciones de zapatas y fundaciones deben realizarse luego de que las excavaciones para zapatas estén completas y todos los aceros de refuerzo estén colocados.”
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Receive inspection upon pouring of concrete slabs (“inspección de losas y contrapisos de concreto”)
Agency: Municipal Authority (Alcaldía Municipal)
According to the 2010 Building Code of Honduras ” Código de Construcción de Honduras” under Section 109, BuildCo is obliged to receive inspection upon pouring of concrete slabs. This inspection must be performed after the steel reinforcement of the slab or subfloor and building service equipment, conduit, piping accessories and other ancillary equipment items are in place, but before any concrete is placed or the stage floor is installed, including the primary flooring.
“Las inspecciones de losas y contrapisos de concreto deben realizarse despues de que el acero de refuerzo de las losa o contrapiso y los equipos de servicio del edificio, conductos, accesorios de tuberias y otros elementos de equipos auxiliares esten en su lugar, pero antes de que cualquier concreto sea colocado o se instale el tablado del piso, incluyendo el entarimado primario.”
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Receive structure inspection (“inspección de estructuras”)
Agency: Municipal Authority (Alcaldía Municipal)
According to the 2010 Building Code of Honduras ” Código de Construcción de Honduras” under Section 109, BuildCo is obliged to receive structure inspection. This inspection must be made after the roof deck or sheathing, all structure, fire fighting locked and braces are in place and pipes, chimneys and vents that need to be concealed are complete and the rough work of the cables , plumbing and electrical, hydraulic and sanitary and heating ducts are approved.
“Las inspecciones de estructuras deben realizarse después que la cubierta o entablado del techo, toda la estructura, los bloqueados antifuegos y los arriostramientos estén en su lugar y las tuberías, chimeneas y ventilaciones que deban ser ocultados estén completos y la obra gruesa de los cables, tuberías y conductos eléctricos, hidráulicos y sanitarios y de calefacción estén aprobados.”
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Receive on-site inspection from Fire Department after construction
Agency: Fire Department
According to the 2010 Building Code of Honduras ” Código de Construcción de Honduras” under Section 109, BuildCo is obliged to receive Fire Department inspection.
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Receive connection to water and sewage from SANAA
Agency: SANAA
After all the required inspection have been conducted, BuildCo. can receive the utilities connections.
Time and cost: 15 days, HNL 30,888
Receive final inspection
Agency: Municipal Authority (Alcaldía Municipal)
According to the 2010 Building Code of Honduras ” Código de Construcción de Honduras” under Section 109, BuildCo is obliged to receive a final inspection. The final inspection must be made after all work required by the building permit is finished.
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Register building at Real Estate Registry
Agency: Real Estate Registry (Registro de Bienes Raíces)
The last step that BuildCo. has to do is the registration of the warehouse. Reforms and optimization of electronic processing have significantly decreased the time to register property. However, in 2009 due to an administrative backlog and delays with the registration process, the procedure for registration of a building is now taking on average 30 days.
Time and cost: 30 days, HNL 4,478
