Building handover in Morocco: provisional acceptance to final release

Handover in Morocco runs from the pre-handover inspection to the end of the guarantees. The architect lists defects with the contractor, then the owner signs the provisional acceptance, which transfers custody of the building and starts the guarantees, including the ten-year liability covered under Order 3201-24. The as-built file is handed over. Administratively, the architect declares completion and certifies compliance with the permit, the fire safety visit takes place where required, and the municipality issues the occupancy permit or certificate of compliance under Decree 2-18-577. Final acceptance follows the guarantee period, and only then are retentions and bonds released.

Scope

This page covers everything after the works are physically complete: pre-handover inspection and snagging list, provisional acceptance, clearing of snags, as-built file, completion declaration, fire safety committee, occupancy permit or certificate of compliance, final utility connections, splitting of titles, final acceptance, release of guarantees and follow-up of defects.

It starts when all equipment has been commissioned and tested and ends with the release of the contractor's retentions and the archiving of the project. For subdivisions, it also includes the provisional and final acceptance of infrastructure by the municipal committee.

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
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: procedure and documents for the occupancy permit and the certificate of compliance.
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 textOccupancy of a building requires the occupancy permit or certificate of compliance issued after checking conformity with the permit.
Décret n° 2-14-499 du 15/10/2014
Règlement général de construction fixant les règles de sécurité contre les risques d'incendie et de panique dans les constructions
2014mandatoryThe text itself (published in the Official Bulletin)full textFire safety installations are tested and, for the buildings concerned, checked by the safety committee before opening or occupation.
Arrêté n° 3201-24 du 20/12/2024
Assurances construction (TRC et RC décennale obligatoires)
2024mandatoryThe text itself (published in the Official Bulletin)full textCompulsory insurance: the ten-year liability cover runs from acceptance; serious defects are declared to the insurer.
Décret n° 2-14-394 du 13/05/2016
Cahier des clauses administratives générales applicables aux marchés de travaux (CCAG-T)
2016mandatoryThe text itself (published in the Official Bulletin)full textContractual mechanisms of provisional and final acceptance, snagging and release of guarantees, when the contract applies or refers to them.
Loi n° 18-00 modifiée par la loi 106-12
Statut de la copropriété des immeubles bâtis
consolidée (adala)mandatoryThe text itself (published in the Official Bulletin)full textCo-ownership law: co-ownership rules and plans are needed to split titles in apartment buildings.
Loi n° 107-12 modifiant et complétant la loi n° 44-00 relative à la vente d'immeubles en l'état futur d'achèvement
Vente d'immeubles en l'état futur d'achèvement (VEFA)
2016mandatoryThe text itself (published in the Official Bulletin)État marocainOff-plan sales: handover to buyers follows the completion stages and guarantees set by this law.
Loi n° 25-90
Lotissements, groupes d'habitations et morcellements
version consolidée (adala, 2024)mandatoryThe text itself (published in the Official Bulletin)full textSubdivisions: provisional acceptance of infrastructure precedes plot titles and the occupancy of buildings on the plots.
Décret n° 2-17-746 du 10/04/2019
Audit énergétique obligatoire et organismes d'audit énergétique
2019mandatoryThe text itself (published in the Official Bulletin)full textCompulsory energy audit for buildings above the consumption thresholds it sets; relevant for large facilities once in operation.
Règlements de service eau
Conditions de raccordement aux réseaux (eau potable, assainissement, électricité)
—voluntary—Régies et sociétés régionales multiservicesPermanent water, electricity and sewerage subscriptions follow the distributor's acceptance of the connections.

Who does what

PartyRole
Client (owner)Signs provisional and final acceptance, receives the keys and the as-built file, opens permanent subscriptions and releases guarantees only when conditions are met.
ArchitectOrganises the pre-handover inspection, drafts the snagging list, follows its clearance, declares completion and certifies compliance with the permit.
ContractorCorrects snags within the agreed time, delivers the as-built drawings, manuals and guarantees, and repairs defects reported during the guarantee year.
Inspection body and civil protectionIssue the final technical report and, for buildings concerned, verify fire safety compliance before occupation.
MunicipalityInspects the building with its committee and issues the occupancy permit or certificate of compliance.

Inspection milestones

  1. Pre-handover inspection (OPR) Good practice
    Full walk-through with the contractor, snagging list drawn up, inspection body's final report received.
  2. Provisional acceptance with snagging list Specification (CPS) requirement
    Provisional acceptance report signed with the snagging list, as-built file and key handover; hold point that starts the guarantees.
  3. Snags cleared Specification (CPS) requirement
    Each snag corrected and its clearance recorded; formal notice to the contractor when deadlines are missed.
  4. Completion declared and compliance certified Legal obligation
    Completion declared, site logbook closed, architect's certificate of compliance with the permit issued.
  5. Occupancy permit or certificate of compliance issued Legal obligation
    Occupancy permit or certificate of compliance obtained after the committee visit, with the telecom compliance certificate.
  6. Final acceptance Specification (CPS) requirement
    Final acceptance signed once the guarantee period is over and no reported defect remains unrepaired.

Common non-conformities and follow-up

FindingAction
The owner moves in before the occupancy permit is issued.Regularise without delay; without the permit, utility subscriptions and sales may be blocked and the owner is exposed to enforcement.
The contractor does not clear snags within the agreed time.Send a formal notice, then have the work done at the contractor's expense if the contract allows, deducting from retentions.
The as-built file is incomplete at provisional acceptance.Record it as a snag and withhold the corresponding payment until drawings, manuals and test reports are delivered.
A crack threatening stability appears after acceptance.Declare it immediately to the ten-year liability insurer, document it and have the structural engineer assess it.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between provisional and final acceptance?

Provisional acceptance transfers custody of the building to the owner, possibly with snags, and starts the guarantees. Final acceptance closes the guarantee period once all reported defects are repaired.

Who issues the occupancy permit in Morocco?

The municipality, after the committee visit, on the basis of the completion declaration and the architect's certificate of compliance, as organised by Decree 2-18-577.

When are retentions and bonds released?

After final acceptance and the final account, not before. Releasing them early removes the owner's leverage to obtain repairs.

What should the as-built file contain?

Record drawings for architecture, structure and networks, product data sheets, equipment manuals and guarantees, and all test reports.

How does the ten-year liability work?

It covers serious defects affecting the stability of the building after acceptance. Under Order 3201-24 it is insured, and any such defect should be declared to the insurer as soon as it appears.

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 (332)

"Handover" phase: 332 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 (24)

Mandatory Moroccan standards (NM) (121)

Approved Moroccan standards (NM, voluntary) (124)

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European and French standards (EN, NF, DTU) (35)

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Other jurisdictions (equivalents) (28)

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All phases

Sketch design · Preliminary design · Detailed design · Building permit · Tender documents · Construction documents · Construction site

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