Causes of Building Permit Delays: A Case Study of a Sri Lankan Local Government Authority

Although the construction sector plays a crucial role in driving economic growth and ensuring societal well-being, construction delays within the sector remain a significant challenge in both developed and developing countries. In Sri Lanka, the construction industry is particularly affected by delays in building permit issuance. Yet, recent research addressing this issue within the Sri Lankan context remains limited. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the causes of delays in building permit issuance in a selected local government authority in Sri Lanka, focusing on both administrative and architect perspectives. A qualitative approach was adopted, including focus group interviews with administrative officers, individual interviews with architects, and descriptive analysis of secondary data on building applications from 2018-2023. The findings reveal significant challenges in the permit process, with 65% of applications during 2018-2023 exceeding the stipulated 14-day processing period. Through thematic analysis, the study identified 11 administrative reasons and 9 architect-related reasons for the delay. These insights offer critical insights into inefficiencies within the current permit process and highlight the need for reform. The study recommends enhancing administrative procedures, addressing client related issues, and improving architect practices to streamline the overall building permit process and support timely project delivery.