Building permit in Morocco: laws, required documents and the Rokhas process

A building permit in Morocco is granted by the municipality under urban planning Law 12-90 and the general building regulation, Decree 2-18-577. Joint Order 337-20 lists the main and additional documents for each type of authorisation, and Order 338-20 makes the application electronic through the Rokhas platform, where the filing receipt starts the review clock. The planning committee gathers opinions from the urban agency, civil protection and utility providers. Repairs, demolitions and regularisations follow Decree 2-18-475 as amended, and subdivisions need a separate permit under Law 25-90. Works start only once the permit order and the stamped plans are issued.

Scope

This page covers the authorisation stage of a construction project in Morocco: assembling the permit file, filing on Rokhas, the committee review and its observations, and the issue of the permit with the stamped plans and the construction tax receipt. It also points to the variant procedures: amendment, repair, demolition, regularisation and subdivision permits.

It starts when the detailed design is approved and the architect assembles the file, and it ends when the permit is issued and the latest start date is recorded. Construction drawings, tenders and site opening come afterwards; the occupancy permit and the certificate of compliance are covered under handover.

Regulatory table

Reference, edition, status, the text that makes the rule mandatory and the verified source (standards catalogue 2026-10-25; NM statuses checked against the official list of the Ministry of Industry and Trade).

ReferenceEditionStatusText making it mandatorySourceNote
Loi n° 12-90
Loi relative à l'urbanisme		version consolidée (adala, mise à jour 2024)mandatoryThe text itself (published in the Official Bulletin)full textLegal basis of the building permit: when it is required, who issues it and the mandatory role of the architect in the application.
Décret n° 2-18-577 du 12/06/2019
Règlement général de construction fixant la forme et les conditions de délivrance des autorisations et pièces exigibles		2019mandatoryThe text itself (published in the Official Bulletin)full textGeneral building regulation on authorisations: one-stop shop, committees, documents, occupancy permit and certificate of compliance.
Arrêté conjoint n° 337-20 du 21/01/2020
Liste des documents et pièces du dossier de demande d'autorisation		2021 (consolidé)mandatoryThe text itself (published in the Official Bulletin)full textChecklist of the main documents due at filing and the additional documents due before issue, for each type of authorisation.
Arrêté conjoint n° 338-20 du 21/01/2020
Dématérialisation des procédures d'autorisation (plateforme Rokhas)		2020mandatoryThe text itself (published in the Official Bulletin)full textElectronic filing and review through Rokhas: the platform receipt is the reference for the whole procedure.
Arrêté conjoint n° 1839-23 du 10/07/2023
Délais de chaque intervenant pour certaines décisions d'urbanisme délivrées par les communes		2023mandatoryThe text itself (published in the Official Bulletin)full textSets the time allowed to each department for certain municipal planning decisions; useful to follow the file and plan the programme.
Décret n° 2-18-475 du 12/06/2019 modifié par le décret 2-23-103 du 08/05/2023
Permis de réfection, de régularisation et de démolition		version consolidée 2023mandatoryThe text itself (published in the Official Bulletin)full textRepair, demolition and regularisation permits, as amended by Decree 2-23-103; choose this route when the works are not a new building.
Loi n° 016-89
Exercice de la profession d'architecte et institution de l'Ordre national des architectes		1993mandatoryThe text itself (published in the Official Bulletin)full textThe architect who signs the plans must be registered with the Order; the regional council visa is one of the documents in the file.
Loi n° 25-90
Lotissements, groupes d'habitations et morcellements		version consolidée (adala, 2024)mandatoryThe text itself (published in the Official Bulletin)full textSubdivisions and housing groups: a subdivision permit precedes any building permit on the future plots.
Loi n° 66-12
Contrôle et répression des infractions en matière d'urbanisme et de construction		2016mandatoryThe text itself (published in the Official Bulletin)full textPlanning control and enforcement law: building without a permit, or departing from it, exposes the owner and the builders to official findings and penalties.

Who does what

PartyRole
Client (owner)Signs the application, provides the ownership documents and pays the fees and the construction tax due on issue.
ArchitectAssembles the file according to Order 337-20, obtains the Order's visa, files on Rokhas, answers the committee's observations and collects the stamped plans.
Urban agency and consulted bodiesGive their opinion on compliance with the planning documents; civil protection and utility providers comment on safety and connections.
MunicipalityIssues, refuses or adjourns the permit and keeps the stamped plans that will be used for site inspections and for the occupancy permit.

Inspection milestones

  1. Building permit file prepared Legal obligation
    Every main document listed by Order 337-20 is in the file, including the signed application, the architect's plans and contract, the Order's visa and proof of ownership.
  2. Filed on Rokhas, receipt issued Legal obligation
    File complete on Rokhas, filing receipt and fee receipt obtained; this hold point starts the review deadlines.
  3. Review and planning committee opinion Legal obligation
    Committee opinion received, observations answered with corrected plans, fire safety opinion and other consulted opinions on file.
  4. Building permit granted Legal obligation
    Permit order and plans stamped as approved collected, construction tax paid, latest start date entered in the project schedule.
  5. Permit suited to the works (repair or amendment) Legal obligation
    For works on an existing building, the correct procedure chosen (amendment, repair, demolition or regularisation) with drawings showing existing and proposed states.
  6. Subdivision permit granted Legal obligation
    For a subdivision, permit to subdivide granted on the basis of the layout plan, infrastructure design and specification.

Common non-conformities and follow-up

FindingAction
Rokhas returns the file as incomplete.Compare the file with the Order 337-20 checklist, add the missing documents and refile; the review clock restarts from the new receipt.
The committee issues an unfavourable opinion on height or setbacks.Revise the plans to meet the local plan, explain the changes to the client and resubmit through the platform.
Works are started before the permit is issued.Stop the works; under Law 66-12 the owner and contractors are exposed to an official report. Regularisation is only possible in the cases the decree allows.
The project changes after the permit is granted.File an amendment application with plans in conventional colours before carrying out the change on site.

Frequently asked questions

Who files the building permit application in Morocco?

The architect files it on Rokhas on behalf of the owner, who signs the application. The architect must be registered with the Order and the file carries the regional council visa.

Which documents are required?

Joint Order 337-20 sets the list by type of authorisation, separating the documents due at filing from those due before issue. The guide published by the urban agencies helps as a checklist.

How long does the review take?

Order 1839-23 sets the time allowed to each department for certain decisions. The real duration depends on the completeness of the file and on the committee's observations.

Can an existing unauthorised building be regularised?

Decree 2-18-475, as amended by Decree 2-23-103, organises a regularisation permit for buildings that meet current rules but were built without authorisation, under the conditions it sets.

Do I need a separate permit to divide land into plots?

Yes. Subdivisions fall under Law 25-90 and require a permit to subdivide before building permits are requested on the plots.

Sources, author and revisions

Written by , architect · under review · updated . Professional reading, separate from the text of the standard: each requirement is classed as a legal obligation, a specification (CPS) requirement or good practice.

Revision log

All standards for this trade (88)

"Building permit" phase: 88 regulations and standards from the library apply at this stage. Moroccan texts take precedence; foreign standards are references or equivalents when no Moroccan standard exists.

Moroccan regulations (50)

Approved Moroccan standards (NM, voluntary) (3)

European and French standards (EN, NF, DTU) (15)

Other jurisdictions (equivalents) (20)

and 5 more: full list, filters and related texts in the standards library of your account (free). Create my free account →

All phases

Sketch design · Preliminary design · Detailed design · Tender documents · Construction documents · Construction site · Handover

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