Building Development Application Process

A person who proposes to carry out building work shall apply in the
prescribed form and manner to the Local Authority for the appropriate
building permit. The Kingston & St Andrew Municipal Corporation accepts
and considers applications for building permission within Kingston & St
Andrew and makes determination on the applications. Applications for
building approval are concerned primarily with the structural integrity of the
proposed building/structures. Building applications may be referred to the
National Environmental Planning Agency (NEPA) if there is an accompanying
planning component.
Under the Building Act, permission is required for any of the following :-
1. Construction/Erection of building
2. Demolition of building
3. Additions /alterations and external repairs
4. Temporary building & Farm House
5. Retention/Change in use of building from one use class to another( eg.
residential to commercial).
An application could take approximately four (4) weeks (for residential single
family buildings, while all other applications may take between 60 to 90 days
(If you are not certain as to whether or not you need a permit please contact
your Local Authority).
When applying for a Building permit, you are required to submit the
following:-
1. Completed Building Application Forms with prescribed fees:
Additional fees will be charged by NWA and NEPA in instances
where the proposed development requires permit/reviews by those
agencies.

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 2. Proof of Ownership: A Certified Copy of Registered Title from the
National Land Agency (NLA) no more than 30 days old must be
submitted. If your name is not on the title a Certified Copy of Sales
Agreement, Deed of Gift/Conveyance, Probate of Will and/or other
transfer documents duly certified must be submitted along with the
certified copy of the Title. If you are not the owner of the land, a Letter
of Authorization from the owner, stamped and signed by a Justice of
the Peace or a Notary Public must be presented.
3. Current Certificate of Tax Payment
4. Location Map
5. Surveyor’s Report/Diagram which should not be more than 12 months
old
6. Letter from NWC if connection to sewer main is to be the method of
sewage disposal.
7. For detailed Building Applications, both architectural and engineering
drawings are required as indicated below. The minimum set of
drawings (architecture and engineering) required are four. In the case
of multi-family and non-residential developments, at least six additional
sets may be required for circulation to the relevant agencies.

Architectural drawings showing:-

I. Location plan at the relevant scale to facilitate the necessary site visits
II A properly dimensioned site plan showing the following:-
a. building layout and footprint (existing and layout where applicable)
b. Parking layout/bays (existing and proposed where applicable)
c. Disabled facilities (parking & ramps) to specification
d. Driveway, ingress, egress (width)
e. Plot boundaries
f. Orientation (North arrow)
g. Sewage system

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 h. Amenity area (where applicable) and any other physical features
affecting the site (eg. gully)
III. Floor plans – the entire floor layout including existing as well as proposed
floor plans (use of rooms, doorways, windows, openings, etc)
IV. Landscaping Plan
V. Elevation
VI. Schedules
VII. Solid waste disposal facility ( for multi-family, commercial and institutional
developments)
VIII. Planning brief (where necessary)

Engineering Drawings showing:-

I. Electrical Plan laying out all electrical components such as electrical
outlets, lighting fixtures, etc.
II. Cross-section (building and site profiles)
III. Plumbing layout
IV. Roof plan showing all structural members (sizes, spacing, types,
roof pitch, drainage, etc.)
V. Foundations details showing all structural members including
stiffeners, columns, pad footings, etc.
VI. Drainage plans to include the existing and proposed storm water
drainage and plumbing layout. Position of of existing and proposed
features such as sanitary drains, septic tanks, absorption pit, soak
away pit, tile field, surface storm water collection, containment and
final disposal point, etc
VII. Details of sewage disposal system (engineering report where
applicable)
VIII. Details of any boundary or retaining wall (where applicable)

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IX. Plans showing reinforcement concrete Floor slab, beams and
columns (if applicable)
X. Where applicable drawings are to be stamped and signed by a
professional engineer.

Under the Building Act the KSAMC must ensure that designs submitted
in respect to the building application and all building work within
Kingston & St Andrew are in compliance with and is carried out in
accordance with the Building Act, the National Building Code and any
other regulations made under the Building Act. Furthermore, the
KSAMC must ensure that the designs and supervisory aspects of the
building work are carried out by qualified professionals.

Await approval from your Local Authority before commencing

any work!!!

Building Application Guide Development Breaches and Penalties

Anyone who is found to be building without a permit or in breach of the

terms and conditions subject to which a permit was issued may be
issued a Stop Notice requesting IMMEDIATE CESSATION OF
WORKS until the plan is submitted, approved and a permit is issued.
An enforcement Notice will be issued within 14 days after the date of
the issuance of the Stop Notice. Please note that failure to comply with
any of the notices will result in penalties being applied as set out in the
Building Act and the Town and Country Planning Act.

Refusal of Application

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If your application has been refused, the Council is required to write a
notification letter to you stating the reason(s) for refusal and guide you
as to the process that you can take to appeal this decision.

Approval of Application

You are required to:

1. Pick up your approvals. If you are not the owner, he/she must give
you a Letter of Authorization, stamped and signed by a Justice of the
Peace or a Notary Public.
2. Commence construction within time specified by your Local Building
Authority or the permit will expire.
3. Contact the appropriate departments to carry out inspections during
the course of construction.
4. Keep a copy of the plans and permits on site.

Validity of Permit

Granted Building Permits are only valid for the time specified by your
Local Authority after the date of issuance. If you do not intend to build
within the initial time specified after approval has been issued; take the
plans back to your Local Authority and get them REVALIDATED.
Contact your Local Authority for Revalidation Fee.

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