Land in Senegal: land title, lease, council allocation — what to check

Three main land regimes

Senegal's land system rests on three pillars: the national domain (Law No. 64-46 of 17 June 1964), covering unregistered land managed by the State; the State domain (Law No. 76-66 of 2 July 1976), public or private; and land registered in the Land Register (Livre foncier), which can be privately owned.

Key principle: private ownership of land only comes from registration in the Land Register, that is, a land title (titre foncier). Other documents give a right of use or occupation, not ownership.

The land title (titre foncier, TF)

This is the most secure title: full, final ownership that can be passed on and mortgaged, registered in the Land Register kept by the land registry (Conservation foncière, part of the DGID tax and land administration). Each title has a number. Buying titled land requires a notarial deed, then registration of the transfer in the Land Register.

According to the APIX guide (2026), the costs of buying titled land include registration duties (5% of the declared value), the land registration fee (1%) and the notary's fees. Ask the notary for an estimate before committing.

The lease (bail)

On land in the State's private domain, the State can grant a lease. A long-term emphyteutic lease (18 to 50 years) is a property right that can be mortgaged, with an obligation to develop the land. An ordinary lease is less secure. Under certain conditions, particularly once the land has been developed, the leaseholder can apply to convert the lease into a land title.

If you are offered “land with a lease”, check the type of lease, the remaining term, the development conditions and whether it can be transferred.

The council allocation (délibération)

On national-domain land, the municipality can allocate a plot by a resolution of the municipal council. This allocation gives a right of use: it is not ownership, it generally cannot be transferred, and it can be withdrawn if the land is not developed.

Plots held “on délibération” are common, especially on the outskirts of towns. They are not necessarily to be avoided, but you need to understand what you are really buying and what will be needed to regularise it. Get advice from a notary before any transaction.

Checks before buying

• Request the statement of registered rights (état des droits réels, EDR) from the land registry (DGID): it shows the holder and any mortgages, easements or seizures.
• Check the seller's identity and standing: are they really the rights holder? Are they acting alone or on behalf of a family?
• Have the boundaries checked by a licensed surveyor (bornage) and obtain the cadastral plan extract.
• Ask the local council about the subdivision, services (roads, water, electricity) and the planning rules that apply.
• Use a notary: a notarial deed is mandatory to transfer titled land, and the notary carries out the preliminary checks.
• Pay nothing before these checks, and keep a written record of every payment.

Buying from abroad: practical precautions

If you are buying from abroad, choose the notary yourself and deal with them directly. Ask them to send you the documents (title or deed, statement of registered rights, plan) before anything is signed, and take the time to read them.

Have someone you trust visit the plot and send photos and a video taken on site, ideally with the boundary markers visible. Be wary of rushed offers (“you have to pay today”) and of prices well below those in the area.

Costs on top of the price

• Registration duties and the land registration fee, calculated on the value of the land.
• The notary's fees.
• Boundary survey by a surveyor and the cadastral plan extract.
• Where applicable, regularisation costs (converting a lease or council allocation).
• Later on, property tax once the house is built.

The most common pitfalls

The same plot sold to several buyers, a seller who is not the real rights holder, boundaries disputed by a neighbour, land in a non-buildable area or on public land: these situations happen. They can almost always be spotted early with the checks above.

By the sea, watch out for the public maritime domain: it includes a 100-metre strip from the highest tide line. This domain cannot be sold and cannot be privately owned.

Where does the builder fit in?

A construction company is not a notary: it is not its role to guarantee the legal status of a plot. It does, however, need to know that status to prepare the work, and the title deed is part of the building permit application.

When you write to us, simply tell us the status of your land (land title, lease, council allocation, purchase in progress): it helps us prepare the quote.