Every local construction project is legally obliged to submit a building permit application in the Philippines. The National Building Code of the Philippines demands that there should be no erection, construction, alteration, repair, moving, conversion, or demolition of buildings without an approved building permit from the Office of the Building Official (OBO) of the corresponding locality. This rule demonstrates the critical need to prioritize the building permit for all construction projects conducted in the Philippines.
Therefore, a building permit is necessary to construct new structures or improve existing facilities. For example, projects that often require construction permits are new or remodeled single-family dwellings, commercial and industrial buildings, and ancillary frameworks.
Applicants must submit building construction plans and other documentation for evaluation. The purpose is to verify that construction projects fulfill national and municipal building safety, accessibility, land use requirements, zoning, and other criteria that safeguard human life, public health, and property welfare. The city engineering office reviews and approves these applications to comply with all applicable requirements.
Building a house or construction without processing a building permit application in the Philippines will only delay the development. The OBO will immediately issue a stern warning to notify the contractor and the project owner to desist from all activities until a permit is secured.
Defining A Building Permit
A building permit is a government document issued by the Department of Building Officials, which serves as one’s official consent to start with any addition, construction, demolition, or renovation works on a property.
The permitting process’s principal objective is to protect public safety. Building inspectors analyze applications and approve them only after determining that the project’s designs, calculations, and specifications conform with applicable municipal rules.
A permit is a written license from a municipal building department to execute particular construction work. Permits for demolition, construction, plumbing, electrical, and mechanical work may be needed separately, depending on the scale of the project and the jurisdiction.
Why Do You Need To Apply For A Building Permit?
Vitruvius’ founding principles of architecture – firmitas (strength), utilitas (utility), and venustas (beauty) have been the pinnacle of architectural works around the world. However, to ensure their applicability up to the present is where technical applications such as the building permit application enter.
The building permit ensures that plans and designs comply with several building laws in your locality, such as the National Building Code of the Philippines (PD 1096), Fire Code of the Philippines (RA 9514), and your local building codes and ordinances.
A critical component of obtaining a building permit is ensuring that your architects, engineers, and other construction professionals adhere to applicable standards, codes, and minimum building design and construction requirements. The scope of review may include land use and zoning, line and grade, architectural, structural, sanitary, electrical, and mechanical documents.
Requirements For Building Permit Application in the Philippines
All documentation sets required to get a construction permit in the Philippines fall into three categories: application form, evidence of ownership, and working drawings.
For a more detailed list, here are the requirements you need to prepare:
Application Form
- Five copies of the application for a building permit
- Three copies of the electrical permit forms
- Three copies of sanitary permit forms
Proof Of Ownership
If the applicant is the landowner:
- A valid certified copy of the Transfer Certificate Title (TCT), filed with the Registry of Deeds
- Five copies of the Tax Declaration
- Five copies of the latest Real Property Tax Receipt
If the applicant is not the owner of the site:
- Duly-notarized copy of the Contract of Lease or Deed of Absolute Sale
Working Drawings
Five sets of complete detailed plans, some municipalities may require more
If two-story building
- In Structural Design Analysis, each page is signed and sealed by a licensed civil engineer.
If more than two stories
- Boring and Plate Load Test
- Seismic Analysis
Photocopy of the Professional Tax Receipt (PTR) Number and the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) license of all involved architects and engineers
The Application Process For The Building Permit
After completing the criteria, the next step is to submit them to the appropriate authority, which in this instance is the Office of the Building Official. In the Philippines, the procedure of obtaining a construction permit is as easy as the following:
Step 1:
Secure all checklists and application forms from the Office of the Building Official and see if you have completed all of them
Step 2:
Submit them to the Office of the Building Official
Step 3:
Once all requirements are complete, an acknowledgment or follow-up slip will be issued.
Step 4:
Wait for ten (10) working days until the Releasing Section of the Office of the Building Official provides you with an order of payment. Pay the corresponding fees at the Cashier’s Office of your local city/municipal hall.
Step 5:
Upon submitting the proof of payment or the official receipt, the release of the building permit is generally after five (5) working days.
What Makes A Building Permit Application Disapproved?
Even though an applicant has met all documented criteria and paid all applicable fees, the building officials may still deny a building permit application in some instances. The owner, architect, and other building experts must carefully evaluate requirements to prevent the following:
- Errors found in construction plans and specifications
- Incorrect or inaccurate data provided
- Non-compliance with the standards of the National Building Code (NBC) and other required building laws
Does The Building Permit Expire?
For the short answer, yes, a building permit does expire, but only if the project meets any of the two (2) conditions:
- Construction work did not commence one (1) year after the issuance
- Construction work started but got suspended or abandoned, and it has been 120 days since the last site activity
The Next Steps To Building Permit Application In The Philippines
After the building permit is approved, the construction crew can begin work on the home or building. The structure is now ready to be brought to life under the guidance of an architect and other building professionals. Obtaining all necessary permissions and approvals for your project can take time. There is little you can do to influence how long it takes the local bureaucracy to process your application. But everyone can contribute to expediting the process. By employing a professional design team to work on your drawings and calculations, you can minimize the chance of error and shorten the revision cycles that your application must tolerate.
