Procedure To Obtain A Certificate of Occupancy In Lagos State
There is a laid down procedure to obtain a certificate of occupancy in Lagos. The procedure includes payment of fees, submission of documents and follow up on the process. But before discussing the procedure to obtain a certificate of occupancy in Lagos State, let’s answer the question, what is a certificate of occupancy and why is it important?
What is a certificate of occupancy?
A certificate of occupancy also known as C of O is a legal document that gives you the right to own and use a property. It gives you the maximum right over a property which means you can use or sell the property.
However, a certificate of occupancy in Lagos State has a lifespan of 99 years after which you would be required to renew.
Why is a certificate of occupancy important?
A C of O is a proof of ownership. When you buy a virgin land, e.g a land without title, you would need to process and obtain a C of O in order to validate your ownership of the land.
If you do not process your certificate of occupancy, then the government of the state does not recognize you as the true and legal owner of the property.
It’s like a birth certificate for land and properties.
What is the procedure to obtain a certificate of occupancy?
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Get all the relevant documents:
Once you buy the property and you have made all the payments, then you need to get all relevant documents. Below is a list of documents you need for processing your C of O:
- Four Copies of Deed of Assignment
- Purchase Receipt
- Four Copies of your survey plan showing the boundaries of the land
- Government issued Identification (e.g international passport, Driver’s licence, Permanent Voter’s Card or National ID).
- Four Passport Photographs with white background (size: 5 x 5)
- Picture of the site showing time, date, and street name where the property is located
- Site location sketch
- Tax Clearance Certificate
- 3. Land information certificate
- Current development levy
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Submit Your Application
After putting together all the documents required, you are expected to pick up the application form at the Lands Bureau, fill it and submit along with the other documents.
The application form is known as the Certificate of Occupancy Form, Form LRF 1.
You would also have to attach a Formal Letter addressed to the Executive Secretary – Land Use and Allocation Committee, Block 13, Room 4, Lands Bureau, The Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja.
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Pay all the fees
To obtain a C of O in Lagos State is not free but not . There are fees you have to pay and submit the proof of payment to the Lagos State Government.
Below is a list of most of the fees you are expected to pay to the Lagos state government before you are able to obtain a C of O.
- Publication Fee
- Site Inspection Fee
- Income Tax (if not already paid)
- Stamp Duties
- Developmental levy
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Processing & Issuance
After submitting all necessary documents and paying all the prescribed fees, the land bureau officials would inspect the land and the Certificate of Occupancy would be issued.
Please note that this article is a summary of the procedure of the process and should not be relied upon in its entirety. There might be other requirements and fees depending on the circumstances of each case.
