This is the second of a two part video in the "Building Your Own Home In Jamaica Series" in which I will be guiding prospective home owners how the formwork for Concrete Slab Roof Construction is setup.

Flat Roof Decking

The backdrop to this video is the Cashew Grove Housing Project in Irwin St. James, Montego Bay. The scheme is partly being developed by the National Housing Trust (NHT) and private individuals.

There are huge savings in doing it yourself. Building your own home with the requisite guidance.

The cost to build a house in Jamaica is between $90 USD (low end finishes) and $130 USD (high end finishes) per square foot. ( material and labor included)

A average 2-bedroom house in Jamaica, 900 square feet, would cost approximately:

$81,000 USD or 12.15 million JMD for low end finishes, and
$117,000 USD or 17.55 million JMD for high end finishes
The average cost though is $100 USD per square foot or 90,000 USD or 13.59 million JMD.

Here is Breakdown of construction costs for a two-storey 2 bedroom house:

1. BUILDING

a. Foundation 11.1%

b. Walls and wall finishes 21.3%

c. Floors and finishes 15.2%

d. Roof and roof finishes 7.0%

e. Staircase and balustrading 3.4%

f. Doors and windows 7.6%

g. Joinery fixtures, fittings 2.9%

h. Ceiling finishes 3.4%

j. Sanitary appliances, plumbing 1.4%

k. Electrical Installation 4.8%

Sub-total 78.0%

2. EXTERNAL WORKS

Drainage, water supply, etc 13.2%

3. GENERAL PRELIMINARIES 7.3%

4. CONTINGENCIES 1.5%

TOTAL 100%

Source: Jamaica Institute of Quantity Surveyors


Documents Required by the Municipal Corporation for Building Permit:

Completed Application Form with prescribed fee.
Surveyor’s Diagram
Complete Checklist
Proof of Ownership which can be:
Certified Copy of Registered Title
Certified Copy of Sales Agreement
Certified Copy of Will *
Certified Copy of Deed of Gift / Conveyance *
Certificate of Tax Payment
Accompanied by a letter from a Lawyer or Justice of the Peace *
If you are not the owner of the land, a Letter of Authorization from the owner, stamped and signed by a Justice of the Peace or a Notary Public, should be presented.
Other documents may be required to conduct a complete review of the application, to be requested where necessary.

What Do I Need To Submit My Plan?
No. of Plans Needed:

Single Family Dwelling House Three (3) Sets
Multi-Family Dwelling House Nine (9) Sets
Apartment Building Nine (9) Sets
Commercial Structure Nine (9) Sets
Change of Use Nine (9) Sets

https://www.nla.gov.jm/content/nla-pr...

See below useful links regarding construction in Jamaica.

The Independent Construction Rates In Jamaica - https://www.my-island-jamaica.com