Drawing Approval Guideline for
Private Residential & Industrial
Developments
Created by:
Urban Planning Department
Created on:
15th June 2025
Doc ID: UBP-2025-GDL-070
Drawing Approval Guideline for Private Version: 1.1
Residential & Industrial Developments Classification: Public
Effective Date: 17th June 2025
Record of revisions
Revision Page
# Version Revisions made Approved by
Approval Date number
1 - 1.0 Initial Document - Ahmed Zinaf
2 17th June 2025 1.1 Revised Document 2-13 Ahmed Zinaf
Page 2 of 13
Doc ID: UBP-2025-GDL-070
Drawing Approval Guideline for Private Version: 1.1
Residential & Industrial Developments Classification: Public
Effective Date: 17th June 2025
Table of Contents
1. Purpose..................................................................................................................................................................... 4
2. Scope ......................................................................................................................................................................... 4
3. Terms & Definitions .......................................................................................................................................... 4
4. References ............................................................................................................................................................. 5
5. Guideline Details ................................................................................................................................................ 5
6. Roles & Responsibilities .............................................................................................................................. 10
7. Review ..................................................................................................................................................................... 10
8. Annexures ............................................................................................................................................................... 11
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Doc ID: UBP-2025-GDL-070
Drawing Approval Guideline for Private Version: 1.1
Residential & Industrial Developments Classification: Public
Effective Date: 17th June 2025
1. Purpose
This guideline aims to ensure that all the construction projects carried out in
Hulhumalé and Thilafushi comply with government regulations including planning
& development controls set by this corporation. These development controls aim
to safeguard the life, health, and property of people.
2. Scope
This guideline applies to development drawings submitted for approval for all
private residential developments in Hulhumalé, as well as industrial developments
in both Hulhumalé and Thilafushi.
3. Terms & Definitions
POA: Power of Attorney – in case of multiple owners for single plot, assigning one
owner on behalf of all the owners.
Developer: The party contracted to carry out the development works.
Professional Verification: The process of verifying the Licensed Designers,
Architectural/Structural Checkers of the submitted development drawings through
the online portal.
Licensed Designers: a licensed architect, and a licensed engineer enlisted in
ministry’s registry, who prepares the development drawings and are registered
under Practitioner’s regulation of Maldives.
Architectural/Structural Checkers: A licensed checker registered under
Practitioner’s regulation of Maldives, who is responsible for checking the
architectural and structural details as per the planning regulations.
Building Consent Authority (BCA): Any authority registered under the regulation
to give construction related approvals. The authority referred to in this guideline as
the BCA is the Housing Development Corporation (HDC).
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Doc ID: UBP-2025-GDL-070
Drawing Approval Guideline for Private Version: 1.1
Residential & Industrial Developments Classification: Public
Effective Date: 17th June 2025
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA): A process used to assess the potential
environmental effects of a proposed development before work begins, ensuring
informed and sustainable decision-making.
4. References
Hulhumalé Phase 2 Planning and Development Guidelines (Document ID: UBP-
2024-GDL060)
Guidelines for Industrial Developments in Hulhumalé (Document ID: UBP-2022-
GDL026)
Setback Plans Hulhumalé 1 and 2
Planning and development guidelines for industrial lands allocated in Thilafushi
Phase 1 (Document ID: UBP-2023-GLD031)
Planning and development guidelines for industrial lands allocated in Thilafushi
Phase 2 (Document ID: UBP-2023-PRC029)
Construction Industry Practitioners Regulation (Document ID: R-39/2024)
Construction Administrative Regulation (Document ID: R-24/2023)
Building Code (Document ID: R-21/2024)
5. Guideline Details
5.1. Roles and Responsibilities of Owner, Developer, Licensed Designers and
Architectural/ Structural Checkers
5.1.1. The developer/owner shall submit the necessary documents of
development drawing for HDC's approval prior to commencement of
construction work.
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Doc ID: UBP-2025-GDL-070
Drawing Approval Guideline for Private Version: 1.1
Residential & Industrial Developments Classification: Public
Effective Date: 17th June 2025
5.1.2. The developer/ owner shall adhere to laws/regulations and planning
guidelines/controls set for the following specific aspects of
development.
5.1.3. Planning guidelines/ controls in this guideline comprise of:
a. Plot Location, Size and Usage
b. Footprint
c. GFA
d. Setback
e. Building height and envelope
f. Parking requirement(s)
5.1.4. The developer/owner shall engage a Licensed Designers and
Architectural/Structural Checkers to prepare the required development
drawings.
a. The developer/owner shall ensure if the assigned Licensed
Designers and Architectural/Structural Checkers is registered and
if the license is active. If the mentioned professional is not
registered, the drawings shall be rejected.
5.1.5. Development drawing Approval is provided by HDC based on
Architectural/Structural Checkers stamp and it is the responsibility of the
Checkers to make sure the drawing is in accordance with
laws/regulations and planning guideline/controls set by HDC and
relevant authorities.
5.1.6. Building Usage Permit shall be given if the building is constructed in
accordance with laws/regulations and planning guidelines/controls set
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Doc ID: UBP-2025-GDL-070
Drawing Approval Guideline for Private Version: 1.1
Residential & Industrial Developments Classification: Public
Effective Date: 17th June 2025
by HDC and relevant authorities as well as the approved drawings. If the
building is constructed in violation of the aforementioned guidelines,
regulations and approved drawings, HDC shall withhold the Building
Usage Permit and shall not be liable for any losses.
5.1.7. The Licensed Designers shall prepare architectural and structural
drawings respectively, in accordance with the planning regulations and
guidelines. These drawings shall then be reviewed by an Architectural
Checker and Structural Checker. Once confirmed to be compliant to the
Professional’s Checklist (Annex 8.1.: Professionals Checklist – Detail
Drawing, Document ID: UBP-2025-FMT-016) the drawings shall be
stamped by the Architectural Checker and Structural Checker
accordingly.
5.1.8. After the drawings are stamped, the developer/owner shall submit the
stamped drawings to HDC through the online portal or via email.
5.1.9. All private residential development drawings shall be submitted through
the online portal by plot owner’s Efaas login.
5.1.10. Industrial development drawings should be emailed to [email protected].
5.1.11. Documents submitted shall adhere to the following requirements:
a. All the drawing files submitted shall be in English.
b. Drawings shall be submitted in both PDF and CAD format.
c. All drawings submitted shall allocate an empty space in the
drawing for the approval stamp at the bottom left corner of every
page of the PDF file (2 x 2 inches).
d. All PDF files shall be of a resolution not less than 200 DPI.
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Doc ID: UBP-2025-GDL-070
Drawing Approval Guideline for Private Version: 1.1
Residential & Industrial Developments Classification: Public
Effective Date: 17th June 2025
e. All drawings shall adhere to the conventional unit systems as
stated in the regulations.
f. All lines and texts in the drawing shall be in black and white unless
stated otherwise.
g. All drawings shall be stamped and signed by the assigned
Architectural and Structural checker.
h. All digital stamps shall be scanned and in actual scale and size of
the checker’s stamp.
5.1.12. The following documents shall be submitted for any new submission or
amendment:
a. Complete drawing PDF file
b. Complete drawing CAD file
c. Architectural Checker Certificate
d. Structural Checker Certificate
e. Foundation Protection Method
f. Visual Soil Inspection Report
g. EIA Report, if applicable
h. Structural Calculations (for new submissions and if applicable for
amendments)
i. Plot Registry/ Plot agreement
j. Owner National ID
k. POA
l. Signed declaration by the architectural and structural checker.
(Annex 8.1.: Professionals Checklist – Detail Drawing, Document ID:
UBP-2025-FMT-016)
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Doc ID: UBP-2025-GDL-070
Drawing Approval Guideline for Private Version: 1.1
Residential & Industrial Developments Classification: Public
Effective Date: 17th June 2025
5.2. Submission Types
5.2.1. New Application: Any initial submission or amendment shall be treated
and reviewed as a new application. Amendments are changes made to
an existing approved drawing. New applications are categorized as
follows:
a. New submission
b. Architectural and Structural amendment
c. Architectural amendment
d. Structural amendment
5.2.2. Revision: Revisions are updated drawings submitted in response to
HDC’s comments on new applications or amendments.
a. Revisions shall be submitted within 30 calendar days. If there is no
submission within the timeframe, the initial drawing application
shall be closed and the next drawing submission shall be submitted
as a new application.
5.3. Duration: All drawings submitted via portal shall be checked within working
10 days from the date of Professional Verification.
5.4. Duration: All drawings submitted via portal shall be checked within working
10 days from the date of Professional Verification.
5.5. Review and Rejection: HDC shall review the submitted drawings for
compliance with planning guidelines/controls. (Refer to clause 5.1.3. and
Annex 8.2. Development Control Checklist, Document ID: UBP-2025-FMT-017) If
the drawings meet the necessary requirements, HDC shall issue an approval.
If not, the applicant shall be requested to revise the drawings according to the
comments provided by HDC or provide additional information. If rejected, the
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Doc ID: UBP-2025-GDL-070
Drawing Approval Guideline for Private Version: 1.1
Residential & Industrial Developments Classification: Public
Effective Date: 17th June 2025
applicant shall need to re-submit the application. Drawings shall be rejected
if any significant non-compliances are identified, or if the drawings are
missing relevant informationn.
5.6. If any violations of the laws/regulations and planning guidelines/controls set
by HDC and relevant authorities are identified, HDC shall request the Ministry
of Construction, Housing and Infrastructure to impose a fine and necessary
actions on the checkers, architects and engineers in accordance with Article
24 of the Construction Practitioners’ Regulation. If the Licensed Designers and
Architectural/Structural Checkers fail to pay the fine, to suspend/revoke the
license in accordance with Article 25 of the above-mentioned regulation.
6. Roles & Responsibilities
6.1. Urban Planning Department:
6.1.1. To create policies in accordance to the relevant regulations and
guidelines, and review them when necessary to ensure relevance and
accuracy.
6.2. Municipal Department:
6.2.1. To check and review whether the submitted drawings adhere to the
Hulhumalé and Thilafushi planning guidelines/controls (Refer to clause
5.1.3.)
7. Review
HDC shall review this guideline annually, if and when necessary, to ensure
relevance, accuracy, and fitness for purpose.
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Doc ID: UBP-2025-GDL-070
Drawing Approval Guideline for Private Version: 1.1
Residential & Industrial Developments Classification: Public
Effective Date: 17th June 2025
8. Annexures
Annex 8.1. Professionals Checklist – Detail Drawing (UBP-2025-FMT-016)
Annex 8.2. Development Control Checklist (UBP-2025-FMT-017)
Annex 8.3. Stages of Drawing Approval
Step 1:
Engage Licensed Designers
and Architectural/Structural
Checkers
Step 2:
Prepare stamped architectural
and structural drawing set
Step 3:
Submit application to HDC via
online portal or email
Step 4:
Check for compliance against
Hulhumalé and Thilafushi
planning guidelines/controls
COMPLIANT NON-COMPLIANT
Request for revision or additional
Issue drawing approval information
Reject, request for re-submission
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Doc ID: UBP-2025-GDL-070
Drawing Approval Guideline for Private Version: 1.1
Residential & Industrial Developments Classification: Public
Effective Date: 17th June 2025
Annex 8.4. Responsibility Matrix
Developer/ Architectural Structural
BCA
Document / Task Owner/
Designer Checker Designer Checker (HDC)
POA
All stamped drawings X X
and documents
relevant to
Architectural Design
All stamped drawings X X
and documents
relevant to Structural
Design
Structural calculation X X
set
Adherence to planning X X X X X
regulations and
building codes
Adherence to Land X X X X X
Usage guidelines
Drawing approval X
application
Check for compliance X
against Hulhumalé
and Thilafushi
planning guidelines/
controls
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Doc ID: UBP-2025-GDL-070
Drawing Approval Guideline for Private Version: 1.1
Residential & Industrial Developments Classification: Public
Effective Date: 17th June 2025
Reviewed by
# Name Designation Department Date Sign
Urban
1 Shahid Ahmed Waheed Director 17th June 2025
Planning
Approved by
# Name Designation Department Date Sign
Chief Planning
1 Ahmed Zinaf Planning Division 17th June 2025
Officer
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