Ouagadougou: The Ministry of Construction of the Nation held a press conference in Ouagadougou to present two major decrees adopted on June 18, 2026, by the Burkinabe government to strengthen the organization of the construction, urban planning, and infrastructure sector.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the first decree addresses the categorization and procedures for issuing building permits, while the second outlines the conditions and procedures for issuing, renewing, suspending, and withdrawing approvals in urban planning, housing, and transport infrastructure. Yacouba Siko, the Deputy Secretary General of the Ministry of Construction of the Homeland, stated that these texts are part of modernizing the regulatory and administrative framework of Burkina Faso's construction sector.

Regarding the building permits decree, Siko explained that it aims to simplify and clarify the procedures, establishing five types of permits: building, modification, restoration, demolition, and certificates of conformity and occupancy. The decree introduces three new categories: D for stations and industries, E for real estate development, and F for public project owners. A streamlined procedure has been implemented with a single point of contact and a maximum processing time of 15 working days, supported by an online platform for digitization.

The second decree, concerning approvals in urban planning, housing, and transport infrastructure, consolidates 11 types of approvals for property developers, architects, surveyors, urban planners, and contractors. It removes the revenue requirement, reduces application processing time from 90-120 days to 30 days, and replaces eight committees with a single structure, facilitating SME access to accreditation.

The Deputy Secretary-General emphasized that these decrees replace outdated legislation, addressing rapid urbanization by eliminating bureaucratic hurdles and excessive delays. The reform will be gradually implemented through a national awareness campaign, issuance of implementing decrees, training programs, and enhanced oversight by the ONC-AC. Offenders will face sanctions such as warnings, fines, work stoppages, suspension, or withdrawal of accreditation.