Building Permits and Fitness Certificates in Lagos: Checks Before Buying a Home

A title document and a building approval answer different questions

A seller’s land-title document does not show that every part of a building was approved or constructed as permitted. Request the development or planning permit, approved drawings and applicable building-control evidence for the exact site. Compare the approved use with the property being advertised and how you intend to use it.

Lagos’s planning and building-control functions involve different agencies and stages. LASBCA describes inspections during construction and a certificate of completion and fitness for habitation. Ask the relevant professionals to connect the planning approval, built form and completion evidence rather than accepting one document as a substitute for all three.

Compare the approved drawings with the actual building

Ask an appropriate building professional to compare the plot, floor count, layout and relevant site requirements with the approved drawings. Identify extensions, added floors, conversions and other changes that require investigation. A finished appearance or years of occupation cannot explain whether those alterations were authorised.

Record the plan reference and revision date. Ask the seller for the documentary basis of any change and have the authority or adviser confirm what further approvals are needed. If you plan a renovation or change of use, establish those requirements before treating the property as suitable for the intended project.

• Match site and approved plan reference.
• Identify additions and changes from the drawings.
• Check approved use against the advertised and intended use.
• Ask about outstanding notices, approvals and completion evidence.

Verify completion and fitness references

LASBCA provides an online certificate-verification service asking for the approved building plan number and certificate number. Use the actual references from the supplied document and retain the result. If the response is unclear or the document does not match the building, ask the agency for clarification.

Verification of a certificate reference should not be expanded into a guarantee of the building’s current condition. Arrange a suitable independent inspection and discuss observed defects with qualified professionals. Documents, current physical condition and the suitability of a proposed alteration remain separate assessment tasks.

A document-and-site worksheet

Use this to keep the evidence aligned for the building being considered.

Make compliance questions part of the purchase timetable

Discuss unresolved building issues with the lawyer before signing deadlines or agreeing possession. Ask who must provide additional records and whether any necessary work or approval affects cost and timing. Keep seller promises in the document review rather than relying on an informal statement that regularisation is routine.

Browse Nigeria homes by location and property type, then use Lagos-specific checks for offers in the state. Photos and map outlines can prepare your viewing questions, while official records and independent inspection support the investigation. MarkMyProperty does not verify permits or issue fitness-for-habitation certificates.