MANY citizens have been calling our Public Relations Office at City Hall with questions on building and construction works in the City. Quite a few have asked about building new houses and renovating existing ones. Perhaps, we need to do a special column, in our dailies, to inform homeowners about building and other aspects of city life. Until then, we would like to use this letter to share some basic information on building works in Georgetown.First, no person who is desirous of building should begin any such operations, in the city, without the appropriate application to the City Engineer. Application forms are available at the City Engineer’s Department, City Hall Compound.

Second, those who intend to erect a new building or alter or add to any existing building, or do any structural works to any building, must submit the application with three (3) copies of a plan of the new building or of the alterations or additions, to the existing building or of the structural work for approval by the City Engineer.

Also, citizens should note the following:-

* The approval by the City Engineer of a plan shall be in writing at the foot of the plan approved;

* The plan must state the purpose, for which the building is intended to be used;

* It must be drawn in ink on the appropriate material, drawing paper or tracing linen of good quality and must be drawn to scale, e.g.

a) Floor plans and elevations drawn to the 1/8 scale which is 1” on plane represents 8’ 0’on the ground.
b) Site plans drawn to the 1/16 scale which is 1” on plan represents 16’0’ on the ground.

* The plan should show the ground position and outline of the new building, the elevation and dimensions thereof and the distances of the walls from the boundary lines of the land, on which it is proposed to erect the same, and from every other building or erection, on that land.  In the case of a new building of several storey it shall give particulars; of every storey thereof;

* The plan must show the position and dimensions of every water closet, drain or other house connection on that line;

* In the case of alterations or additions to an existing building, the plan must show the position, outline and dimensions of every part of the alternations or additions intended to be made to the existing building and also comply with the afore-mentioned requirements. The existing portion of building must also be shown to relate existing building with the new addition and/or alteration.

* The plan should show any other reasonable particulars required by the City Engineer.
The City Engineer shall, within reasonable time, after he receives the plan signify in writing his approval or disapproval of the building operations to the person proposing to execute same.