Any person, Car Mechanics, Auto Body Repairmen, Auto Body Painters or Wrecker’s Yard Operators, seeking to use a site for one or more of the following purposes must secure a Garage Licence.

1. The repair or replacement of vehicle propulsion units, however activated, vehicle transmissions, vehicle chassis and any apparatus thereof, including any electrical systems attached thereto.
2. The repair and/or painting of vehicle bodies.
3. The storage of old or damaged vehicles and/or parts thereof.

Applicants wishing to apply for a Garage Licence must apply to the Department of Physical Planning and the Buildings Control Division of the Ministry of Works & Urban Development.  

Eligibility

Anyone interested in building.

Process

1. Submit completed application form for a Garage Licence, along with location and surveyed site plan to Buildings Control Division of the Ministry of Works & Urban Development.
2. For Family Island applicants, submit the application to the local administrator.
3. Arrange site inspection with Volatile Substances Inspector (Garages), to verify relevant code compliance.
4. Pay relevant fees, depending on the type of garage operation. Note: Freeport applications are submitted to the Grand Bahama Port Authority Limited.
5. Once approved a Garage Licence is issued to qualified applicants.
6. Applicants are notified in writing and/or by phone that documents are ready for collection.
7. Family Island applicants collect approved permit from the local government office.  

For new (proposed) building, the following steps must be completed before applying for a Garage Licence:

• Submit relevant documents and pay required fees for a building permit.
• Complete statutory requirements for inspections, and obtain Occupancy Certificate for building.

Application Form(s)

First Schedule Form - 1 Regulations 3(1) {Application for a Licence to Operate a Garage}

This form may be collected at the Buildings Control Division of the Ministry of Works & Urban Development

Supporting Documents

• Location Plan.
• Survey Drawing of Site.
• Site Plan.
• Completed Application Form.
• Copy of Passport (first four pages).
• Copy of Driver’s Licence.
• Copy of NIB Card.
• Police Certificate.
• Lease Agreement (if applicant is not property owner).

Turn-around time

A Garage Licence is processed within 30 days following the submission of all documents. Note: if there are any queries or deficiencies in the application the processing time will be lengthened.

Deadline

All Garage Licences must be renewed annually, on or before 30th June of each year.

Related Fee(s)

The table below gives a breakdown of the different types of operations on garage premises and the fees associated with each:
 

For more information please contact