Legal and Regulatory Framework
In order to effectively combat illegal and non-compliant constructions and to further structure the development of cities, the Government has adopted several texts, including:
- Law No. 2018-868 of November 19, 2018, relating to the profession of architect;
- Decree No. 2019-219 of March 13, 2019, amending Decree No. 2015-195 of March 24, 2015, establishing the creation, responsibilities, composition, and functioning of the Single Window for Building Permits. This Decree establishes a Construction Control Unit that brings together the technical departments of the Ministry of Construction, Housing, and Urban Planning (MCLU), the District, and the Municipalities of the Abidjan district;
- Law No. 2019-576 of June 26, 2019, establishing the Construction and Habitat Code, which updates the standards regarding construction and housing and clarifies the role of each stakeholder and professional in the sector;
- Decree No. 2019-594 of July 3, 2019, regulating building permits. Thus, the regulation now prescribes:
- the mandatory engagement of a consulting engineer by project owners to ensure the reliability and stability of constructions (greater than R+2);
- the conformity control of the construction;
- a 21-day period for the issuance of the Building Permit (for a complete file that complies with the current regulatory requirements);
- the obligation for the project owner to obtain insurance for the construction site;
- Decree No. 2023-644 of July 4, 2023, setting the terms for the transfer of state real estate assets;
- Law No. 2024-239 of April 24, 2024, relating to the professions of engineer and consulting engineer in the construction and public works sector.
Regarding Construction Control
The control of building permits has seen notable expansion thanks to the Urban Investigation and Control Brigade Service (SBICU). In 2023, 18,874 buildings were inspected compared to 14,198 in 2022, representing an increase of 32.93%. The number of building collapses has decreased, going from 11 in 2020, to 2 in 2021, to 3 in 2022, and remaining at 3 in 2023. Regarding demolitions, the SBICU demolished 103 buildings in 2023 compared to 165 demolitions the previous year.
However, the number of constructions without building permits remains high. This is explained by the fact that the population is much more inclined to build before regularizing the construction.
Activities of the Urban Investigation and Control Brigade Service (SBICU)
|
|
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
|
Inspections conducted (Number of visits) |
- |
- |
36,463 |
48,531 |
|
Notices issued |
2,726 |
9,867 |
14,198 |
18,874 |
|
Number of demolitions carried out |
1 |
51 |
165 |
103 |
|
Number of collapses |
11 |
02 |
03 |
03 |
|
Source: MCLU, SBICU |
Regarding the management and optimization of State assets
The MCLU ensures delegated project management for the construction and maintenance of public buildings.
In this capacity, during the period from 2019 to 2023, several major construction and rehabilitation projects have been completed, such as the rehabilitation of Towers A and B, the rehabilitation of the Postel 2001 building, the rehabilitation of the Palace of Guests, the construction of the building housing the Ministry of Interior and Security, the construction of the Esplanade of the Presidency of the Republic, etc. Others are ongoing, including (i) the rehabilitation of Tower C of the Administrative City (CITAD) in Plateau, (ii) the rehabilitation of the SEBROKO building in Attécoubé, (iii) the construction of Tower F at CITAD in Plateau, (iv) the comprehensive rehabilitation of the Grand Presidential Palace, (v) the renovation of twelve (12) decentralized structures (7 Regional Directorates and 5 Departmental Directorates), and (vi) the construction of three (3) office buildings for the Cocody brigade and the Yopougon branches.
Perspectives
The Government plans to continue the implementation of major construction and redevelopment projects at certain sites. These include:
- rehabilitation project of the BICICI building in Abidjan-Plateau,
- rehabilitation project of the Pyramide building in Abidjan-Plateau,
- construction project of the African Renaissance Library in Abidjan-Plateau;
- construction project "Place de la Nation" in Plateau, which will include a hotel complex and shopping centers;
- construction project of five (5) administrative towers in Abidjan;
- construction project of nine (9) mini-administrative cities in the interior of the country.