Start here
1. Check the land before making a house plan
Many people first draw the house they want, then discover the land cannot legally support it. Flip the order. Start with the land record, municipal bylaws and site constraints, then design the house that can actually be approved.
- Match Lalpurja area with kitta/cadastral map and real boundary.
- Confirm road width, right-of-way and setback from the road.
- Check river, public land, heritage, high-tension line or other restriction risk.
- Ask the municipality about allowable use, height, floor area and open space.
- Clear land/property tax or local dues before submitting the file.
- Use a qualified designer before paying a contractor or buying materials.
Process
2. Ghar Naksa Pass process: from designer to permit
Kathmandu eBPS describes the standard logic clearly: electronic submission by the build company/designer, ward forwarding, field check, neighbour notice, local inquiry, municipal review and permit issue. Other municipalities may use different software or counters, but the same broad controls usually remain.
- 1
Check if the land can legally support the building
Before paying a designer or contractor, check land ownership, kitta map, road width, right-of-way, setbacks, river/heritage/easement restrictions, land use and municipal bylaws.
- 2
Hire a municipality-accepted designer
A registered engineer, architect or designer prepares drawings and technical documents. In eBPS municipalities, the designer often submits the application electronically.
- 3
Prepare land, identity, tax and design documents
Gather Lalpurja, owner identity, cadastral/kitta extract, tax clearance, architectural plan, lot plan, structural plan and any special documents for company, joint owner or old building cases.
- 4
Submit through eBPS or municipal counter
Kathmandu uses eBPS; other municipalities may use eBPS, their own portal or office submission. Submit only through the official local body or its accepted designer workflow.
- 5
Ward field check and neighbour notice
The file can be forwarded to the ward where the land is located. The ward may inspect the site, publish or serve neighbour notice and run local inquiry before returning the file.
- 6
Municipal technical review and fee payment
Municipal engineers check bylaws, setbacks, building code, structural safety and documents. Pay official permit fees only after the office calculates the amount.
- 7
Receive building permit and build exactly as approved
Start construction only after permit approval. Keep approved drawings on site and do not add floors, change use or shift structure without revised approval.
- 8
Request inspection and completion certificate
After construction, apply for the building completion certificate. The municipality checks whether construction matches approved drawings, conditions and building code.
Official portal
3. What eBPS does
eBPS means Electronic Building Permit System. It is used to process municipal building permit applications, maintain building records and help municipalities check National Building Code and local building bylaw compliance. Kathmandu eBPS also publishes registered designer list, application tracking and reference documents.
Technical rules
4. Building code and bylaw checks
Municipal approval is not only about land ownership. Engineers also review whether the proposed building follows local bylaws and applicable Nepal National Building Code requirements. For earthquake-prone Nepal, structural design is not a decoration.
| Check | What it affects | Mistake to avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Setback / right-of-way | How far the building must stay from road/boundary | Designing rooms into required open space. |
| Height / floors / use | Allowed building size and residential/commercial use | Adding floors or changing use without revised approval. |
| Structural design | Seismic safety, column/beam/foundation design | Letting a contractor alter structure from drawings. |
| Sanitary / drainage | Toilet, septic, drainage and public health requirements | Ignoring sewer/septic conditions until final inspection. |
Fees
5. Building permit fees and payment
Building permit fees are not one national number. They can depend on municipality, fiscal year, building use, built-up area, revised drawing, ownership transfer, completion certificate and service charges. Kathmandu eBPS publishes KMC-specific per-square-foot examples, but your local office's calculation is the final bill.
- Ask whether the fee is calculated from built-up area, use type or both.
- Confirm designer submission, municipal processing and completion-certificate charges.
- Pay only through official counter or official payment channel.
- Keep every receipt, chalani number, application number and approved drawing copy.
- Do not pay a contractor or agent to “settle” municipal fees privately.
After construction
6. Building completion certificate
The completion certificate is where your approved plan meets reality. Kathmandu eBPS says once construction is complete, getting the completion certificate is mandatory, and municipal inspection checks whether construction conforms to approved drawings, conditions and building codes.
- Apply only after the building is actually complete enough for inspection.
- Keep approved drawings, permit certificate, receipts and any revised approval ready.
- Do not hide extra floors, shifted columns, changed use or encroachment.
- Ask for correction or revised approval route if construction changed from the permit.
- Store the final completion certificate safely for sale, bank, inheritance and municipal records.
Avoid rejection
7. Common Ghar Naksa Pass mistakes
- Hiring a designer who is not accepted by the municipality.
- Using a Lalpurja area that does not match the kitta/site plan.
- Ignoring road widening, right-of-way, river or public-land restrictions.
- Submitting drawings that violate setbacks, height, use or open-space rules.
- Starting construction before permit approval.
- Changing columns, floors, use or staircase during construction without revised approval.
- Forgetting to apply for completion certificate after construction.
- Entering citizenship, land or permit details into unofficial portals or agent forms.
8. Related Tools Pasal help
Accuracy record
Official sources
Reviewed on . Government portals, fees and procedures can change; the linked official pages remain authoritative.
- Kathmandu Metropolitan City eBPS ↗
Official Kathmandu Electronic Building Permit System with login, registered designer list, application tracking, bylaws and reference documents.
- KMC Municipal Building Permit Process ↗
Official KMC process page describing e-submission, ward forwarding, field check, neighbour notice, documents, KMC-specific fees and completion certificate flow.
- KMC HouseOwner Documents ↗
Official KMC eBPS owner-document search page; confirms the portal uses citizenship number and chalani number for owner records.
- Department of Urban Development and Building Construction — Building Code ↗
Official DUDBC National Building Code page listing NBC design, architectural, sanitary, electrical and seismic code documents.
- Mero Kitta / Department of Survey ↗
Official Department of Survey public portal for land-owner document/kitta-related service context used before building-permit work.