These regulations, under the Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law, Cap U2 of 2015, mandate that renovation applications be submitted to LASPPPA, including details of the renovation and any previous planning permits.

Experts emphasize the importance of these permits for ensuring compliance with building codes, maintaining safety and structural integrity, and conducting environmental checks. Many Lagos residents may be unaware of this requirement, which applies to both residential and commercial buildings. Renovations such as replacing floor tiles and other aesthetic improvements without a permit are illegal.

READ ALSO: Lagos Govt Woos Property Owners with 40% Discount on Building Permit

Understanding the Law

Section 5 (A.1) of the regulations clearly states, “No building shall be renovated in the State without a renovation permit granted by the Authority.” The regulations define renovation as any act done to improve a building’s beauty, including changing windows and doors, re-plastering, reroofing, replacing floor coverings, retiling, kitchen or bathroom remodelling, plumbing works, and electrical works, but excluding structural improvements or changes to the building.

Residents must obtain a renovation permit from LASPPPA before starting any of these activities. Failure to do so would contravene the regulations.

Application Process

Section 5 outlines the requirements for obtaining a renovation permit. Applicants must submit an application to LASPPPA, including details of the renovation and evidence of a previous planning permit if available. The application process incurs a fee equal to 25% of the current processing fees. If a previous planning permit is not included, the application must be submitted “As-Built” and comply with minimum planning standards applicable to the location, also incurring a 25% fee. Non-compliant applications must be adjusted to meet these standards before a renovation permit can be granted.

Expert Opinions

Experts highlight the critical benefits of obtaining renovation permits. Architect Kingsley Cletus explains that these permits ensure compliance with building codes and regulations, maintaining the safety, integrity, and habitability of structures. For instance, converting external plumbing to conduit plumbing or changing a building’s roofing from wood to steel can significantly impact stability and safety, necessitating approval to meet regulatory standards.

READ ALSO: Abdullahi: FCT Demands Tax Clearance Certificates for Building Permit

A real estate consultant specializing in facility management underscores the importance of these permits for ensuring safe and compliant renovations. He notes that inspections by qualified officials verify compliance with building codes, reducing construction-related accidents and maintaining long-term safety and stability.

Conclusion

Obtaining renovation permits is essential for conducting renovation projects safely, legally, and to high standards, benefiting both property owners and the state. Experts call for increased public awareness and recommend that the Lagos State Government expand LASPPPA’s workforce to ensure broader compliance with the mandate to obtain renovation permits before starting any projects.

The post Lagos State Mandates Permits for Building Renovations appeared first on Housing TV Africa.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr Oluyinka Olumide, disclosed this at a press briefing to mark the first year of the second term in office of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Wednesday in Lagos.

He said the aim of these initiatives was to ensure public safety and promote a sustainable urban environment by encouraging adherence to building regulations.

The commissioner had in a recent interview with newsmen said 80 per cent of buildings in the Ibeju Lekki area of Lagos had no approval.

He said, “Just last week Thursday and Friday, myself and the team were in the Ibeju Lekki and Epe axis and you would agree with me that anybody passing through that corridor would see a lot of estates marked. We went there, and I can tell you that from what we saw, over 80 per cent of them do not have approval.”

READ ALSO: Lagos State Affirms Lekki Corridor Zoned for Agriculture, Not Housing Development

On Wednesday, he announced that a 40 per cent rebate on planning permits was offered to civil servants to incentivise them to follow the proper procedures for their properties.

He said, “In a bid to ensure that the state maintains its high developmental standard, Lagos State Government has announced a 40 per cent rebate on Planning Permit payment to Lagosians.

“This is to encourage property owners in the state to do the right thing by ensuring their properties pass all official procedures.”

Olumide said a 90-day amnesty period was also given to property owners with unpermitted buildings to apply for permits during this period without facing penalties.

READ ALSO: Commissioner Explains Lagos State’s Decision to Relocate Squatters to Their Home States

This, he said, was meant to address existing non-compliance and promote a more regularised building environment.

He said, “The amnesty initiative would allow owners and developers of existing buildings to obtain planning permits without the payment of statutory penal fees within the amnesty window from May 2 to July 30, 2024, with a five per cent discount applicable to payments completed within 10 working days of the bill’s issuance.”

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Lagos Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Oluyinka Olumide, has advised property owners and developers to get planning licenses before beginning work and adhere to the terms of their permissions.

He spoke to tackle the widespread contempt for physical planning regulations across the state, vowing that no sacred cows would be spared in the application of the law to the benefit of a living and sustainable built environment.

Here are the documents required when applying for building approval:

1. Five original copies of architectural drawings duly stamped and sealed with a stamp endorsed by the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON). 

2. Five original copies of structural drawings duly signed, sealed and dated together with a letter of supervision from an engineer registered with the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), confirming that the building is constructed according to good standards and under the supervision of the engineer who will be responsible for any failures or defects on the project
3. Calculation sheet for the materials to be used for the project, duly signed by the COREN registered engineer
4. Evidence of payment of assessment fees due on the application
5. Five Original copies of the mechanical and electrical drawings (if applicable)
6. Certified true copy of title documents (i.e. certificate of occupancy, registered conveyance, governor’s consent or letter of allocation)
7. Confirmation/Clearance letter from the Lands Bureau if title documents are being processed by the Lands Bureau (if applicable)
8. Clearance letter from the Land Use Allocation Committee (LUAC) (if applicable)
9. Fire safety clearance letter from Lagos State Fire Service (if applicable)
10. Metroline corridor clearance letter from Lagos State Ministry of Transport (if applicable)
11. Traffic impact assessment report from the Lagos State Ministry of Transport (if applicable)
12. Drainage clearance letter from the Office of Drainage Services, Lagos State Ministry of Environment (if applicable)
13. Copy of a confirmation letter from New Towns Development Authority (if applicable)
14. Soil test report (if applicable)

READ ALSO: Abia Gov’t Commences Demolition of 130 Buildings as Otti Flags off Road Expansion Project
15. Environmental impact assessment report from the Office of Environmental Services, Lagos State Ministry of Environment (if applicable)
16. Letter of structural stability/integrity report duly signed by a COREN registered engineer (in case of a construction/renovation of an existing building)
17. Physical Planning Technical Report from the Physical Development Intervention Department of LASPPPA (if applicable).
18. Clearance letter from the Nigerian Air and Civil Aviation (if applicable)
19. Clearance letter from LASURA (if applicable)
20. An original sun-print survey plan
21. Tenement rate or land use charge receipt, or sworn affidavit as to payment in lieu of receipts
22. 2 passport photographs of the applicant(s)
23. Copy of current tax clearance certificate or evidence of updated personal income tax payment of the applicant(s) or tax clearance certificate of 2 directors if applicant is a company
24. Evidence of Pay As You Earn (P.A.Y.E) returns (where applicant is a company)
25. Copy of certificate of incorporation (where the applicant is a company)
26. Development levy receipt
27. Site photograph

Source: The Nation Newspaper

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