What is urban land in Ivory Coast?
All land within the State's private or public domain covered by urban planning documents (SDU, PUD, Structure Plan, Detailed Urban Planning Plan). Urban land is governed by the Urban Planning and Urban Land Code.
Definition complete
Legal Definition
Urban land is defined by Law No. 2020-624 of August 14, 2020 (Urban Code and Urban Land Domain, Article 3) as all land in the private or public domain of the State covered by urban planning documents.
Distinction between Urban Land and Rural Land
| Urban Land | Rural Land | |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage | Urban planning documents (SDU, PUD) | Rural area outside urban planning documents |
| Applicable Law | Law No. 2020-624 | Law No. 98-750 |
| Title of Ownership | ACD (Arrêté de Concession Définitive / Definitive Concession Decree), Land Title | Rural Land Certificate (Certificat Foncier), Land Title |
| Administration | Ministry of Construction and Urban Planning | AFOR (Agence Foncière Rurale / Rural Land Agency), DDCFET |
Urban Planning Documents that Define Urban Land
- Master Urban Development Plan (SDU — Schéma Directeur d'Urbanisme) — general guidelines
- Master Urban Planning Plan (PUD — Plan d'Urbanisme Directeur) — facilities and development
- Structure Plan (Schéma de Structure) — areas not covered by the PUD
- Detailed Urban Plan (Plan d'Urbanisme de Détail) — rules for a specific neighborhood
Practical Importance
The classification of land as "urban land" determines the rules applicable to its acquisition, buildability, and the administrative procedures to be followed. Land covered by an urban planning document falls under urban land.
Sources juridiques
Loi n°2020-624 du 14 août 2020 instituant le Code de l'Urbanisme et du Domaine Foncier Urbain, Article 3 (définition), Article 43.
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Autres termes du glossaire
The ADU (Attestation de Droit d'Usage Coutumier / Customary Right of Use Certificate) is the single, secure document that replaces the former Village Certificate as of January 1, 2025. Established by Decree No. 2021-784 and secured by the SIGFU (Decree No. 2021-862), it requires a triple signature (village chief, CVGFR president, developer) and a unique IDUFCI. The ADU is not a property title: it constitutes a provisional recognition opening the path to the ACD (Arrêté de Concession Définitive / Definitive Concession Decree) — the ACD published in the Land Register IS the Land Title. In practice, the time between ACD signature and its publication in the Land Register is often longer than the official 180 calendar days (BÂTIR N°004, 2022). Published ACD = published Land Title — same legal deed, two stages.
The Rural Land Agency (AFOR — Agence Foncière Rurale) is the public institution responsible for implementing rural land policy in Ivory Coast. It oversees land certification, registration of rural properties, and coordination of boundary demarcation and surveying operations.
Legal document drafted by a notary that formalizes the transfer of land ownership between a seller and a buyer. The notarized deed of sale is mandatory and confers authenticity on the transaction.
Legal entity that must be established with a minimum share capital of 2 million FCFA held by Ivorian nationals, holding an approval from the Minister responsible for Housing and a financial guarantee from a bank or insurance company.
The alienation price is the sum that the buyer must pay to the State to obtain the Definitive Concession (ACD — Arrêté de Concession Définitive) of urban land. Calculated by an ad hoc commission, it corresponds to the market value of the parcel according to the official schedule.