As part of the public services reform, the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction (“MLMUPC”) issued a New Guideline on Procedures for the Issuance of Construction Permits and Certificates of Occupancy No. 291 DNS/KHTT, dated 04 February 2026 (“Guideline”). This Guideline came into effect from 4 February 2026. For developers, investors, and construction companies operating in Cambodia, the Guideline represents a significant step toward greater regulatory predictability, reduced project timelines, and improved cost certainty in the construction permitting process.
Scope of Guideline
The Guideline sets forth clear timelines and a streamlined workflow for issuing construction permits and occupancy certificates. The Guideline imposes clear timelines on the relevant MLMUPC departments, including the General Departments of Construction, Land Management & Urban Planning, Housing, and Cadastre & Geography, to process applications in a timely manner. In addition, the Guideline introduces standardized reporting forms to be used internally by the MLMUPC’s departments in specific cases, thereby reducing delays caused by back-and-forth communications with the MLMUPC’s officials. To ensure compliance with construction standards, the Guideline requires that certificates of occupancy be issued upon verification by the National Construction Laboratory. From a commercial standpoint, these standardized processes reduce regulatory uncertainty and transaction costs for developers and investors, enabling more reliable project scheduling and financing arrangements.
Application Process
A construction permit application dossier must be submitted to the One Window Service. The documents will then be forwarded to the relevant General Departments for technical assessment, consolidated assessment, administrative review and payment of public service fees before issuance of the construction permit. Upon completion of construction, verification from the National Construction Laboratory is required for the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy. From a practical perspective, applicants are advised to ensure that all required documentation is complete at the time of submission, as incomplete dossiers may result in processing delays and additional administrative costs.
Please find the procedural process, estimated timeframe for each step in the table below.
| Step | Responsible Body/Department | Maximum Timeframe |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | One Window Service – forwards documents to relevant General Departments | 2 working days |
| 2 | General Department of Cadastre and Geography – verifies cadastral information | 20 working days |
| 3 | General Department of Land Management and Urban Planning – verifies urban planning regulations | 20 working days |
| 4 | General Department of Housing – verifies housing development principles | 20 working days |
| 5 | General Department of Construction – evaluates project technical specifications | 20 working days |
| 6 | General Department of Construction – prepares consolidated assessment report and draft permit | 5 working days |
| 7 | General Department of Administration – convenes review meeting and submits to Minister | 15 working days |
| 8 | General Department of Administration – registers number/date and affixes seal after Minister’s decision | 2 working days |
| 9 | One Window Service – delivers permit to building owner and forwards documents for recordkeeping | 1 working day |
The entire process takes approximately 45 working days (assuming parallel processing of steps 2–5) up to 105 working days from the date of submission of the complete dossier to the One Window Service. These defined maximum timeframes represent a notable improvement in regulatory transparency, providing developers and financiers with greater certainty when structuring project timelines, construction financing, and handover schedules.
Certificate of Occupancy Requirement: The National Construction Laboratory shall provide a technical opinion confirming compliance with construction standards and accuracy of testing services before a Certificate of Occupancy may be issued by the MLMUPC. Developers and project owners should factor in the National Construction Laboratory verification period when planning project completion milestones and handover schedules to purchasers or tenants. Please note that under the applicable regulations, an occupancy certificate must be applied for upon completion of construction and must be obtained prior to using or operating the building. The approval process typically takes between one and three months, depending on the complexity of the project and the inspection process. More precise timing would require project-specific assessment and engagement with the relevant authority.
Disclaimer: The information provided here is for information purposes only and is not intended to constitute legal advice. Legal advice should be obtained from qualified legal counsel for all specific situation.
Our team regularly advises developers, investors, and construction companies on navigating Cambodia’s regulatory landscape. Should you require further information or wish to discuss how these changes may impact your projects, please reach out to our partner Davy Kong and Senior Consultant Leung Seng.
