Legal procedure for leasing industrial land as a new investor

A company leasing industrial land to build its own factory should plan for a legal timeline of six to twelve months. These are the main steps.

Step 1: Sign a memorandum of understanding

Work with the industrial park infrastructure developer to reserve the plot and agree the price and lease term (usually running to the end of the park's project life).

Step 2: Apply for the investment registration certificate

Submit to the provincial industrial parks authority. The file covers the project proposal, financial capacity and a preliminary environmental impact assessment.

Step 3: Sign the sub-lease and take handover

Only after the investment registration certificate is issued do you sign the formal lease and pay the land rent.

Step 4: Design appraisal and construction permit

The design must clear fire safety appraisal before the construction permit is applied for. This is the step most likely to drag on if the design file falls short.

Step 5: Construction and acceptance

After construction, both fire safety acceptance and works acceptance are required before the building can be put into use.

If you need production running quickly, leasing a ready-built factory is the more sensible route — the paperwork takes only one to two months.