For a building permit (naksa pass) from a municipality in Nepal, you normally submit a location plan, site plan, floor plans, elevations, sections, foundation plan and details, structural drawings, and sanitary and septic tank details, plus any other drawings your municipality asks for. The exact list, format and number of copies differ between municipalities, so always check the current checklist at your ward or municipal building section before preparing the set.
This post describes what each drawing should show, the scales commonly used, and the mistakes that most often get a file sent back.
Who prepares and signs the drawings
Permit drawings are prepared and signed by an engineer or architect registered with the Nepal Engineering Council, within the limits the municipality sets for each building size. The design must follow the Nepal National Building Code (NBC). Small residential buildings may be allowed to follow the Mandatory Rules of Thumb (NBC 205), while larger buildings need full structural analysis and a design report. Your municipality decides which applies to your building.
List of drawings required for a building permit
| Drawing | What it shows | Common scale |
|---|---|---|
| Location plan | Where the plot is: main roads, landmarks, north direction | 1:1000 or smaller, sometimes not to scale |
| Site plan | Plot boundary as per cadastral map, kitta number, building footprint, setbacks, road and right of way, septic tank, parking, north | 1:500 common; 1:200 for small plots |
| Floor plans | Every floor and the roof: room sizes, walls, doors, windows, stair, floor levels | 1:100 |
| Elevations | Front, back and sides: heights, openings, parapet, finishes | 1:100 |
| Sections | At least one cut through the stair: floor heights, slab thickness, foundation depth, parapet height | 1:100 or 1:50 |
| Foundation plan and details | Footing layout, sizes, depth, tie beams, reinforcement | Plan 1:100; details 1:20 or 1:25 |
| Structural drawings | Column and beam layout, column schedule, beam and slab reinforcement, stair details, material grades | 1:50 and 1:20 |
| Sanitary and septic tank | Pipe routes, inspection chambers, septic tank and soak pit plan and section, connection to sewer | Plans 1:100; details 1:20 or 1:25 |
| Others as required | Electrical layout, rainwater harvesting, compound wall, parking, fire safety for larger buildings | As per municipality |
The scales listed are common practice, not fixed rules. Use the scale your municipality's format asks for.
What each drawing must show
Location plan and site plan
The location plan helps the inspector find the plot. The site plan is the most checked sheet. Draw the plot boundary exactly as on the cadastral map (naksa), with all sides dimensioned and the kitta number, then show the building footprint with its distance from every boundary and from the road centre line. Mark the road width and right of way, the septic tank and soak pit, and north.
The plot area on the site plan must match the lalpurja. If your record is in ropani-aana or bigha-kattha, convert it with the Jagga Napi land area converter. For an irregular plot measured on site, the plot area calculator gives the area from side lengths. Our post on land measurement in Nepal explains the units.
Floor plans, elevations and sections
Floor plans show internal dimensions, wall thickness, door and window sizes with a schedule, stair with riser and tread, and floor levels. Elevations show total height from ground and parapet height. Sections show how the floors stack, so they must cut through the stair and at least one window.
Foundation and structural drawings
These show grid lines matching the architectural plans, footing and column sizes, beam sizes, reinforcement with bar size and spacing, lap and stirrup details, and general notes on concrete grade, steel grade and cover. Earthquake-resistant details such as closer stirrups near joints and proper anchorage of bars need to be clear on the drawings.
Sanitary and septic tank details
Show the toilet and kitchen drainage, inspection chambers, the septic tank plan and section with internal sizes, and the soak pit or sewer connection. Many municipalities also want a rainwater harvesting or recharge pit.
Worked example: scales and area statement
Scale. At 1:100, 1 mm on paper is 100 mm on site, so a 12 m wall is drawn 120 mm long. A building 9 m × 8 m becomes 90 mm × 80 mm on paper. A plot 20 m × 25 m at 1:500 is only 40 mm × 50 mm; at 1:200 it becomes 100 mm × 125 mm, which is easier to dimension.
Area statement. Most municipalities want a small table on the site plan sheet. Take a 4 aana plot:
- Plot area = 4 × 342.25 = 1,369 sq ft = 127.18 m²
- Ground floor footprint = 9 m × 8 m = 72 m²
- Ground coverage = 72 / 127.18 = 56.6 percent
- Three floors of 72 m² = 216 m² total floor area; floor area ratio (FAR) = 216 / 127.18 = 1.70
Compare these with the limits in your municipality's building bylaws. Limits depend on the zone and road width, so check the current bylaws rather than relying on a neighbour's permit.
Sheet layout and title block
Every sheet should carry the same title block, usually at the bottom right so it shows when the sheet is folded. Common sheet sizes are A1 (841 × 594 mm), A2 (594 × 420 mm) and A3 (420 × 297 mm). Keep one scale per drawing where possible, and write it under each drawing as well as in the title block.
Permit stages in general
The steps and names vary, but most municipalities follow a similar path:
- Application with drawings and documents, commonly a copy of the lalpurja, cadastral map, land tax receipt and the owner's citizenship certificate.
- Public notice to neighbours (sandhiyar) for a set period, and a site inspection.
- Permission to build up to plinth level, followed by an inspection at plinth or DPC level.
- Permission for the superstructure.
- Completion certificate after final inspection, if the building matches the approved drawings.
Kathmandu Valley municipalities and many others use an electronic building permit system (e-BPS), where drawings are uploaded as PDF. Combine sheets with Merge PDF and reduce file size with Compress PDF if the portal has an upload limit.
Common reasons a file is sent back
- Plot shape or area on the site plan does not match the cadastral map and lalpurja
- Setbacks or road right of way not dimensioned
- No section through the stair
- Structural drawings without notes on grades, cover and laps
- Septic tank or soak pit placed too close to a boundary or well
- Missing scale, north arrow or engineer's signature and registration number
- Elevations that do not match the floor plans
Frequently asked questions
What scale is used for building permit floor plans in Nepal?
1:100 is the common scale for floor plans, elevations and sections, with 1:500 or 1:200 for the site plan. Follow your municipality's format if it says otherwise.
Do I need structural drawings for a small house?
Yes, municipalities generally require foundation and structural details even for small houses. Smaller buildings may follow NBC 205 rules of thumb, but the details still have to be drawn.
Can the same drawings be used in another municipality?
Not directly. Bylaws, setbacks, formats and checklists differ, so the set usually needs changes. Confirm the current list with the municipality where you will build.