“And the building permit — is that complicated?” Good news: it’s mainly your architect’s job. Still, it helps to understand who does what — it will save you a lot of worry.
Who handles what
The paperwork for a building permit in Marrakech is roughly 90% handled by your architect: they put together the file (drawings, regulatory documents), submit it, and follow up on the authorization with the relevant departments. Your role is limited to providing the documents requested and signing off on each stage.
This is exactly why the choice of architect matters so much: a good architect knows the current requirements and avoids the back-and-forth that costs months.
The key stages, in order
- The drawings — finalized by the architect and engineering office. Nothing gets submitted without a complete file.
- Submission & authorization — handled by the architect with the urban planning departments.
- Starting the works — once the authorization is obtained.
- The inspection office — it checks compliance and structural soundness during construction (essential for your insurance and the ten-year guarantee).
- Final compliance — the closing inspections, before the keys are handed over.
Two things to plan for on your end
The paperwork itself is your architect’s responsibility. But two points are down to you — and they can take a lot of time:
- Having all the drawings before you launch anything.
- Water and electricity on the plot: connections can be slow. Anticipate them as early as possible (we can help you with this).
In short
A permit isn’t the nightmare people imagine — provided you have a good architect and a complete file from the start. The rest is organization. And that, as it happens, is our job.