Building permits in Senegal: how to apply

Who issues the permit?

The building permit is issued by the mayor of the municipality where the land is located. The framework is set by the Urban Planning Code (Law No. 2023-20) and the Construction Code (Law No. 2023-21), adopted at the end of 2023.

As a rule, a permit is required for a new building, but also for some work on an existing one (extension, adding a storey…). Check with the local council before any work, however small.

Documents usually required

The Ministry of Urban Planning lists the following documents, to be provided in several copies:

• an application addressed to the mayor;
• the title deed for the land;
• an information form;
• a descriptive and estimated quote for the work;
• architectural drawings: location plan, site plan, floor plans, sections and elevations, at the required scales;
• a plan of the septic tank or wastewater system;
• a cadastral plan extract stamped by the cadastre department;
• payment of the planning tax and a revenue stamp.

The list and amounts can change: check them on the ministry's website or with your local council when you apply.

Applying online: TeleDAC

Senegal has set up TeleDAC, an online building permit application platform. Launched first in the Dakar region, it has gradually been extended to other municipalities. It lets you submit the application and follow its progress online.

Is your municipality connected? Ask the local council or check the official government services portal (e-Sénégal). If not, the application is submitted at the town hall.

What about timing?

Processing times are announced for the online procedure, but they vary depending on the municipality, the complexity of the application and any additional documents requested. The safest approach is to submit a complete application and only set the start date of the work once the permit has been granted.

Before having the plans drawn

Planning rules differ from place to place: permitted height, distance from the boundaries, buildable area, appearance of façades. Before starting the plans, ask the local council or planning services which rules apply to your plot.

This avoids having a house designed that cannot be approved as it stands, and paying for the plans twice.

Special cases

• Seafront land: the public maritime domain strip cannot be privately owned; check the coastal rules.
• Land near a protected area (reserve, lagoon): additional rules may apply.
• Extension, added storey or change of façade on an existing house: a permit may be needed even without a new build.
• Buildings open to the public (hotel, restaurant, lodge): requirements are usually stricter; check early.

Mistakes that delay an application

• An incomplete title deed or unresolved land status.
• Plans that do not comply with the planning rules for the area (height, setbacks, footprint).
• A missing or unstamped cadastral extract.
• A quote that is too vague and does not really describe the work.
• Applying without checking the list of documents with the municipality.

During and after the build

Once the permit has been granted, keep it with the approved plans: the work must follow them. If you want to change the project along the way, find out whether a new application is needed.

At the end of the work, some compliance formalities may apply: ask the local council what applies to your building.

Building without a permit: a real risk

A building without a permit, or not in line with the permit granted, can lead to penalties, including a stop-work order or demolition. It can also complicate a future sale or the regularisation of the land. It is not worth the risk.

The apparent time saved is often paid for later: a bank, a buyer or a notary will ask for the permits the day you want to finance, sell or pass on the house.

From abroad: who submits the application?

If you live outside Senegal, submitting and following up the application can be entrusted to someone you trust or to a professional (an architect, for example), depending on what the municipality accepts. Ask which documents are needed for them to act on your behalf (power of attorney).

Applying online, where possible, makes remote follow-up easier. In any case, keep a full copy of the application, the payment receipts and every exchange with the authorities.

The builder's role

The descriptive and estimated quote is part of the application: the company that will carry out the work can prepare it based on your plans. The builder is not the authority that issues the permit and cannot promise to obtain it.

With CMR, work can start with no waiting list once the paperwork is in order. Tell us where your application stands in our first conversation.