Building without RAJUK’s approval in Dhaka isn’t just a paperwork risk — it can mean fines, a stop-work order, or a demolition notice years into owning your home. The process has a reputation for being slow and confusing, but it’s manageable once you know the actual sequence. Here’s the outline we walk clients through.
1. Confirm Land Ownership and Category
Before anything else, your ownership documents need to be in order: deed or purchase deed, updated Khatian/Mutation Khatian, up-to-date land development tax receipts, and a digital survey map with geo-coordinates. RAJUK will also check that your plot’s land-use category (residential, commercial, mixed) matches what you intend to build, and that the adjoining road width meets the minimum required for your building’s height.
2. Land Use Clearance (If Required)
For many plots, a Land Use Clearance is needed before design work is finalized. This step is comparatively quick — typically processed within about 15 working days — and carries a modest fee. It’s worth doing early since it can affect what you’re allowed to design.
3. Design the Building Properly
This is where an architect and structural engineer earn their fee. Architectural, structural, electrical, and plumbing drawings all need to be prepared to RAJUK’s technical standards, along with any NOC clearances your specific site requires (fire service, environment, civil aviation height limits near the airport corridor, and similar, depending on location).
4. Submit Through ECPS
RAJUK now processes Construction Permit applications through its online ECPS platform. You submit the drawings and supporting documents digitally, and a review committee assesses the application — general committee approval typically takes around 45 days, though complex or non-standard designs take longer, especially if corrections are requested and resubmitted.
5. Respond to Queries, Then Build
It’s normal for RAJUK to come back with design queries or required corrections. Once those are resolved and the Construction Permit is issued, construction can begin — strictly following the approved plan. Deviating from an approved plan during construction is one of the most common reasons projects run into legal trouble later.
6. Occupancy Certificate
Once construction is complete, an Occupancy Certificate confirms the finished building matches what was approved. This document matters more than people expect — it’s frequently required for utility connections, resale, and bank valuations.
A Note on Timelines and Fees
The steps above reflect the general process as of 2026, but RAJUK’s fee structure and specific requirements are updated from time to time. Always confirm current fees and document requirements before you file, either directly with RAJUK or through your architect.
Let Us Handle the Coordination
Mark D Studio prepares RAJUK-compliant drawings and manages the approval process as part of our architecture service, so clients aren’t the ones chasing signatures between departments. Get in touch if you’re starting this process.