Permits
Building permits in Nepal, explained simply.
Oct 2026 · 12 min read
Visuals generated by Dekibyu with Z-Image Turbo.
A complete guide for new firms: EBPS steps, documents, drawing sets, fees, timelines, wards and completion. Clear and precise.
A building permit is a structured administrative process. Once the steps, documents and timelines are clear, any new firm can move through it with confidence. This guide follows the official procedure published on the Kathmandu EBPS portal, where building permits run online. Requirements in other municipalities differ in detail, so confirm them once at your own ward office.
01 / Designer
Start with the designer
Before preparing any drawings, the firm must hold a Certificate of Designer. Without it, it cannot stamp a single set. Keep the NEC number, firm registration, PAN and tax clearance ready. KMC charges Rs 2,000 for each building design filed, and the Certificate of Designer is renewed every year at Rs 10,000.
The designer list is public on the portal. Prepare every set on the Online Approval Format 2026 from the reference library.
- 01NEC number and type (architect, civil, structural)
- 02Consultancy firm name and municipal business registration
- 03PAN plus tax clearance
- 04Citizenship copy, both sides, plus photo and stamp
- 05Engineer to consultancy agreement letter
02 / Papers
Required documents
Documents with the application
- 01Identity document of the owner, or company registration certificate
- 02Certification by a registered architect or engineer
- 03Cadastral extract of the parcel
- 04Proof of land ownership or lease (lalpurja)
- 05Building plans, the architectural set
- 06Lot plan showing setbacks and access
- 07Proof of tax payment, current year receipt
- 08Structural plans for the proposed work
- 09Neighbour consent from at least one adjoining owner, or a commitment letter
The full checklist sits on the house owner documents page. Originals must be shown when submitting copies. The parcel trace map is available from Mero Kitta.
Submission format
500KB
Designer papers, JPG or PNG
2MB
Myaad thap, JPG, PNG or PDF
Note
One name on every document. If the lalpurja, citizenship and tax receipt spell the owner differently, the file stops on day one.
03 / Drawings
The drawing set
Design framed structures to the NBC 105:2025 seismic code, load bearing masonry to NBC 202:2015, and the architectural scope to NBC 206:2024. Electrical sheets carry separate technical requirements.
- S1Site plan with setbacks, roads and north arrow
- S2All floor plans, dimensioned and levelled
- S3Elevations on all faces plus sections
- S4Foundation, framing and roof structural sheets
- S5Sanitary, plumbing and electrical layouts
- S6Area statement matching the fee calculation
04 / Timeline
The 25 to 30 day process
Day 1
File drawings plus land ownership copy at the EBPS counter. This is day one of the clock.
Day 2
Your file moves to the ward office that covers your site.
Day 4
Field check plus a notice to your neighbours. At least one neighbour consent is needed, or you sign a letter owning future disputes yourself.
Day 8
The notice period starts maturing. Objections, if any, are placed on record from this point.
Day 23
The ward begins its local inquiry into your site and papers.
Day 27
The file returns from the ward with its remarks.
Day 29
Issuance begins. The permit and the approved drawings follow. The whole journey runs about 25 to 30 days.
After filing, progress is visible on the application tracking page. Online filing requires the emSigner digital signature described in the signature guideline. During construction, the municipality may also conduct risk-based field visits.
05 / Types and fees
Building types and fees
| Charge | Rate | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| New construction permit | ||
| Residential | Rs 25 | per sq ft |
| Commercial, institutional, hotel | Rs 35 | per sq ft |
| Other municipal charges | ||
| Building completion certificate | Rs 2 | per sq ft |
| Revised drawing | Rs 1 | per sq ft |
| Ownership transfer, multiple times | Rs 7 | per sq ft |
| Ownership transfer, one time | Rs 5 | per sq ft |
| Change of use | Rs 5 | per sq ft |
Rates shown are Kathmandu Metropolitan City's published schedule, on the official EBPS process page. The fee is the approved built-up area multiplied by the rate. Every municipality sets its own schedule, and the ward applies the one in force on filing day, so reconfirm at your ward before finalising a budget.
Project categories
- New building: The standard procedure, full set required.
- Additional floors: File with the earlier approval and a structural assessment.
- Commercial and institutional: A higher per sq ft rate, with parking and fire safety calculations.
- Renovation and change of use: Prior approval is mandatory, including for minor works.
Structure choice
Load bearing brick walls fall under NBC 202, column beam frames under NBC 105 with NBC 206. A set designed to the wrong code is returned.
06 / Wards
Wards, neighbours and site visits
Most of the file process runs through the ward. The field check, the neighbour notice and the inquiry report all originate there. The ward secretaries and ward technical persons are listed publicly on the portal, so note the relevant names before the site visit.
Working styles differ by ward. Measurement is quick in some, neighbour discussions run long in others. Keep the site clean, keep boundary pegs visible, and engage adjoining owners in good time. If the site falls inside a heritage zone, ask the ward about additional clearances before preparing drawings.
07 / Completion
Completion and myaad thap
01
Complete construction
Complete the work exactly as approved. Any departure from the approved drawings blocks the completion certificate.
02
Inspection, 7 to 10 days
Construction is checked against the approved drawings, conditions and building codes. A field report with photographs travels from the inspector through the senior engineer to the departmental engineer before the certificate is issued.
03
Myaad thap
If the permit validity is running short, file a myaad thap extension request. The owner name, phone, email, an application letter and the earlier certificate are required.
08 / Rejections
Common grounds for rejection
- 01Setback, FAR or height in breach of the bylaws
- 02Name mismatch between the lalpurja and the citizenship
- 03Expired land tax receipt
- 04Missing neighbour consent without a commitment letter
- 05Drawings not prepared on the official approval format
- 06Structural sheets missing for framed structures
- 07Incorrect file type or oversize uploads
- 08Designer certificate expired on the filing date
Recommended first steps
- Secure the designer certificate and adopt the Approval Format 2026.
- Reconcile the lalpurja, citizenship, tax receipt and trace map to a single name.
- Verify setbacks, FAR and height against the bylaws.
- Engage adjoining owners early and secure at least one consent.
- File the set and monitor progress on tracking.
Share
More blogs
All posts