Building permit fee calculator
Estimate the naksha-pass building-permit fee for a house or commercial building in Nepal, from the built-up area, building use and your local body's type.
Add an editable design/professional certification fee to see the total estimated cost of getting your drawing approved. An indicative tool, computed entirely in your browser.
Building details
Total floor area to be built, across all storeys.
Default indicative rate for this use and local-body class, editable to match your municipality's byelaw.
A rough estimate for the architect/engineer's drawing and certification, separate from the municipality's permit fee. Edit to match your quote.
Total estimated permit-process cost
Rs 33,000
1,200 sq ft × Rs 15/sqft, Residential in a Municipality
Municipality permit fee
Rs 18,000
Design / certification fee
Rs 15,000
| Local body type | Residential (Rs/sqft) | Commercial (Rs/sqft) |
|---|---|---|
| Metro / Sub-Metro | Rs 20 | Rs 45 |
| Municipality | Rs 15 | Rs 35 |
| Rural Municipality | Rs 10 | Rs 25 |
An indicative estimate, as of 2082/83, based on typical building-byelaw fee schedules under the Local Government Operation Act. Each municipality sets its own naksha-pass (building permit) rate, so confirm the exact figure with your local ward or Building Permit section. The design/certification fee is a rough placeholder for the architect/engineer's drawing cost, not a quotation, and this estimate excludes any additional map-amendment, road-widening or scrutiny fees your municipality may charge separately.
From built-up area to a permit budget
Naksha-pass fees are set per municipality under the Local Government Operation Act, but almost all local bodies price them the same way: area times a per-sqft rate.
Pick use and local body
Choose Residential or Commercial, and whether you fall under a Metro/Sub-Metro, Municipality or Rural Municipality.
Fee = area × rate
Built-up area (all storeys) multiplied by the matching per-sqft rate gives the municipality's base permit fee.
Add the design fee
A separate, editable design/professional certification fee is added on top, for the total estimated permit-process cost.
Building permit fees, answered
What does the naksha-pass building permit cover?+
Naksha pass is the municipality's approval of your building's architectural/structural drawing (naksha) before construction, confirming it meets the setback, height, floor-area and building-byelaw rules for your zone. The permit fee estimated here is the municipality's processing charge for that approval, based on your built-up area, building use and local-body type.
Does this include the cost of preparing the structural drawing?+
No. The editable 'design/professional certification fee' line is a rough placeholder for what an architect or engineer typically charges to prepare and certify the drawing set, kept separate from the municipality's own permit fee, since that cost varies a lot by firm, building complexity and district. Get an actual quotation from your engineer for an accurate figure.
Where do I apply for a building permit in Nepal?+
Apply at your local municipality or rural municipality's Building Permit (Naksha Pass) section, usually within the Urban Development / Infrastructure branch, with the drawing set, land ownership documents (lalpurja) and a citizenship copy. Larger metropolitan cities often route it through an online building-permit system before the in-person approval.
Why do rates differ between a metro city and a rural municipality?+
Under the Local Government Operation Act, each of Nepal's 753 local levels sets its own building-byelaw fee schedule, so the rate is not nationally fixed. Metropolitan and sub-metropolitan cities generally charge more per square foot than municipalities, which in turn charge more than rural municipalities, reflecting the scrutiny and infrastructure load in denser areas.
Are there extra charges this calculator does not include?+
Yes. Municipalities can separately charge for map amendments, road-widening contributions, existing-building regularisation, or additional scrutiny for taller or larger structures. This calculator gives only the base area-based permit fee and an indicative design-fee line, always confirm the complete fee list with your ward's Building Permit section before budgeting.
Sources & data note
Figures are indicative, as of 2082/83. Naksha-pass building-permit fee schedules are set by each of Nepal's 753 local levels under the Local Government Operation Act, 2074, and are not a single national rate, so confirm the exact fee and any additional charges (map amendment, road-widening, regularisation) with your local Building Permit section before budgeting.