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The Building Permit and Drawings Process in Ghana

How the building permit works in Ghana — the District Assembly and Lands Commission chain, what drawings a licensed architect prepares, where EPA permitting (L.I. 1652) applies, and how long it takes.

Why the Permit Comes Before the First Block

Before construction can lawfully start in Ghana, a project needs a building (development) permit. Building without one risks stop-work orders, demolition, and a property you cannot finance or sell cleanly. The good news: when an architect prepares the drawings and handles the chain, the permit is a managed step — not a maze you navigate alone. This guide explains how it works.

A registered, process-led practice since 1984. Book a design consultation: +233 23 063 0038.

The Permit Chain — Lands Commission and the District Assembly

The permit runs through two bodies, in order:

1. The Lands Commission

Before the permit application, your land has to check out:

  • A site plan approved by the Survey & Mapping Division of the Lands Commission.
  • Your land title certificate or indenture.
  • A land-search report confirming the land is clean.

These are prerequisites — the permit application cannot proceed without them. This is also the stage where land problems surface, which is exactly when you want them found.

2. The Building / Development Permit (MMDA)

The permit is applied for at the Metropolitan/Municipal/District Assembly (MMDA) through its Physical Planning Department:

  • The application includes drawings prepared by a licensed architect, the approved site plan, and your land documents.
  • A Technical Committee — typically engineers, architects, planners, and fire and environmental input — reviews it for compliance.
  • Once approved, the permit is issued. Under L.I. 1630, the building permit is valid for 5 years.

What Drawings the Permit Needs

A permit submission is built on a proper drawing set, prepared by a licensed architect to the regulations:

  • Architectural drawings — plans, elevations, sections — to L.I. 1630 and the Ghana Building Code (GS 1207:2018).
  • Structural and services input where required, with registered engineering input (GhIE).
  • The approved site plan from the Lands Commission.

This is why the permit drawings sit inside the design process, not bolted on after — see The Architectural Design Process Explained. Drawings by an unlicensed draughtsman are a common cause of delay and rejection.

Where the EPA Permit Applies

Some projects also need an environmental permit:

  • Under the Environmental Assessment Regulations 1999 (L.I. 1652), undertakings likely to have a significant environmental impact must register with the EPA and obtain a permit before construction.
  • This applies to larger or special projects — it does not apply to every small residential build.
  • Where it applies, we handle the EPA registration and permit as part of the service.

How Long It Takes

Once a complete application is in — including the Lands Commission-approved site plan and drawings by a licensed architect — the building permit typically takes in the order of one to three months. Timelines vary by assembly and by project. An incomplete application is the most common reason for delay, which is why a properly prepared submission matters.

How We Handle It For You

We prepare the permit drawings and handle the approval chain as part of the design service — the Lands Commission site plan, the District Assembly submission, and EPA permitting where it applies — so your project is approvable from the start and you are not navigating the process alone. For diaspora clients, this is handled while you are abroad. See Designing a Home in Ghana From the Diaspora.

Registered & Accountable

  • Works within the Architects Act 1969 (NLCD 357) and the Architects Registration Council / Ghana Institute of Architects (GIA)
  • Registered engineering input (GhIE) where required; designs to L.I. 1630 and the Ghana Building Code (GS 1207:2018)
  • Permit drawings, Lands Commission site plan, and EPA permitting (L.I. 1652) handled as part of the service
  • Established 1984 — a real practice with a portfolio, shared on request

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the building permit take in Ghana? Typically in the order of one to three months once a complete application is in — including a Lands Commission-approved site plan and drawings by a licensed architect. We prepare and handle this as part of the service; timelines vary by assembly and project.

Who issues the building permit? The Metropolitan/Municipal/District Assembly (MMDA), through its Physical Planning Department and a Technical Committee, after the Lands Commission prerequisites are met.

How long is a building permit valid? Under L.I. 1630, the building (development) permit is valid for 5 years.

Do I need an EPA permit? Only larger or special projects. Under the Environmental Assessment Regulations 1999 (L.I. 1652), undertakings likely to have a significant environmental impact must register with the EPA — it does not apply to every small residential build. We handle it where it applies.

Can a draughtsman prepare my permit drawings? The permit expects drawings prepared by a licensed architect. Drawings by an unlicensed person are a common cause of delay and rejection — see Architects in Ghana.

Talk to Us About Your Permit

Bring us your project and your land documents and we will prepare the drawings and carry the permit chain for you. Book a design consultation: +233 23 063 0038.