New construction
obra nueva
Building on a lot with no construction.
Permits
Which licence, if any
A guide from Decreto 1077 de 2015. The Planeación office of Cartago confirms the licence and the documents for your lot.
Extension
ampliación
Increasing the built area of an existing house, at ground level or upwards.
Alteration
modificación
Changing the architectural or structural design without adding built area.
Change of use
adecuación
Changing the use of the building or part of it, for example a shop.
Structural reinforcement
reforzamiento estructural
Reinforcing the structure to the seismic safety levels of NSR-10.
Demolition
demolición
Taking down all or part of a building.
Minor repairs, usually no licence
reparaciones locativas
Floors, ceilings, tiling, paint and replacing water, drainage, electrical or gas runs, without touching the structure, the layout or the shape of the house.
Which licence, if any
Decreto 1077 de 2015 sets the kinds of construction licence: new construction, extension, change of use, alteration, restoration, structural reinforcement, demolition, reconstruction and enclosure.
Minor repairs (reparaciones locativas) need no licence: floors, ceilings, tiling, paint and replacing water, drainage, electrical or gas runs, as long as the structure, the layout and the shape of the house stay the same.
A licence application includes architectural plans signed by an architect with professional registration and structural plans signed by the engineer. A house built without a licence may first need a recognition (reconocimiento).
The app’s answer is a guide. The Planeación office of Cartago confirms the licence, the documents and the rules for your lot.
Source: Decreto 1077 de 2015 (urban licences: modalities, minor repairs, requirements) – read it
| Document | What it is |
|---|---|
| Title deed (escritura pública) | Shows who owns the property. |
| Certificate of title (certificado de tradición y libertad) | A recently issued copy; Planeación says how recent. |
| Owner’s ID document | The cédula of each owner applying. |
| Property tax receipt (impuesto predial) | Often asked for with the application. |
| National licence application form | The formulario único nacional, signed by the professionals on the project. |
| Addresses of the neighbouring properties | Used to notify the neighbours of the application. |
| Architectural plans signed by an architect | Location, floor plans, sections, façades, roof plan and the table of areas. |
| Structural plans signed by the engineer | Larger projects also need the calculations and the soil study. |
| Soil study (estudio de suelos) | When the project or the structural engineer requires it. |
| Measured drawings of the existing house | A levantamiento of what is built today. |
| Structural assessment of the existing house | A peritaje técnico by a licensed engineer before adding load or reinforcing. |
| Earlier licence and plans, or a recognition | A house built without a licence may first need a recognition (reconocimiento de edificación). |
Technical visit
Send BJS your brief
Plan the rooms and the stages, then send the brief from the planner or the app to ask BJS Construcciones S.A.S. for a technical visit. The price comes after the visit.