Glossary

Ivorian real estate vocabulary, no jargon.

ACD, titre foncier, attestation villageoise… 91 terms explained simply — so you know exactly what you're getting into.

Featured term

ACD — Arrêté de Concession Définitive

The ACD is the final title deed issued by the Ivorian State for urban plots: it's the only document that proves you fully own your plot. An attestation villageoise or a “chief's paper” is not enough — it's a step, not a title. Before any payment, have a notary verify the existence and authenticity of the ACD, under the seller's exact name.

LandView the term →

What it provesFull ownership of the plot, enforceable against everyone.

The trap to avoidPaying on the strength of an attestation villageoise alone.

The right reflexNotary check + LNA-CI verified pro.

The dictionary

Every term, defined right here

1-in-176,000 ratio— How few architects there are in Côte d'Ivoire: With 215 licensed architects for around 27 million people, Côte d'Ivoire has one of the lowest ratios in West Africa. By comparison, France has 1 architect for roughly 3,500 people. Learn more →

A lightly regulated market— The reality of interior design in Côte d'Ivoire: Unlike architects (for whom OAA-CI registration is compulsory), anyone in Côte d’Ivoire can call themselves an “interior designer” without a qualification or a licence. The market is dominated by self-taught designers, often talented but with no guarantee of professionalism. Learn more →
ACD— Arrêté de Concession Définitive (final concession order): Arrêté de Concession Définitive: the administrative order by which the State transfers ownership of an urban plot. It is signed by the minister in charge of Urban Planning in the Abidjan District, by the prefect elsewhere, and must be published in the Livre foncier, the land register (Decree No. 2021-785 of 8 December 2021, which replaced the 2013 framework). Learn more →
ADU— Attestation de droit d'usage coutumier (customary land-use certificate): The document that replaces the attestation villageoise (village certificate): it proves that customary rights over a plot have been cleared. It follows a single, secure template, with one copy per plot, the plot's IDUFCI and a verifiable QR code, and is signed by the village chief, the chair of the village land management committee and the developer of the subdivision. Learn more →
African crafts / wax prints— Bringing cultural references into interior design: A strong trend in Côte d'Ivoire: bringing wax-print fabrics, sculpture, basketry, pottery and African art objects into contemporary interiors. Businesses such as Nyumbani Design offer an eco-friendly selection combining discounted new pieces and second-hand items. Learn more →
APD / APS— Avant-Projet Détaillé / Avant-Projet Sommaire (detailed and outline design): Two design stages carried out by the architect before building work starts. The APS (outline design) sketches the project: floor areas, position on the plot, estimated budget. The APD (detailed design) refines the technical drawings and costings. Learn more →
ARCHIBAT— International building trade fair of Côte d'Ivoire: A trade fair organised every 2 years by the CNOA-CI in Abidjan. The key event for the sector: more than 200 exhibitors and 50,000 visitors. Learn more →
Architecte DPLG— Diplômé Par Le Gouvernement (French state-certified architect): A French qualification equivalent to a master’s degree in architecture, still widely held by Ivorian architects trained in France. A DPLG architect registered with the OAA-CI is fully entitled to practise in Côte d’Ivoire. Learn more →
Attestation domaniale— State land certificate: an administrative step, not a title: A document issued by the Direction du Domaine urbain (urban land directorate) while an ACD application is being processed (Decree No. 2021-785, arts. 12 and 18). It is a step in the procedure: it does not confer ownership. Learn more →
Attestation villageoise— Village certificate: a former customary document, replaced by the ADU: A document that recognised the customary allocation of a plot in a village subdivision. It is not proof of ownership. Since 1 January 2025, it is no longer accepted for a new ACD application: it has been replaced by the ADU (attestation de droit d'usage coutumier, customary land-use certificate) (ministry announcement of 23/08/2024). Learn more →

Bernabé CI— A leading supplier of building materials: A French company established in Côte d'Ivoire since 1950, based on boulevard de Marseille (near Abidjan airport). A reference in the sector for supplies: cement, steel, concrete mixers, gravel, quérons. It delivers within the Abidjan area (a radius of about 50 km). Learn more →
Bespoke cabinetmaking (ébénisterie sur mesure)— High-end furniture made locally: A well-established trade in Abidjan: local cabinetmakers make kitchens, wardrobes, bookcases and living-room furniture to measure in tropical hardwoods (iroko, mahogany, sipo). Quality comparable to imports, for 30 to 50% less. Learn more →
Bioclimatic / vernacular architecture— Design suited to Côte d'Ivoire's tropical climate: A design approach that takes account of Abidjan's hot, humid climate: building orientation, natural ventilation, sun shading, ventilated roofs. Some practices, such as DSY Architectes or Koffi & Diabaté, bring local vernacular techniques into their modern buildings. Learn more →
BoConcept Abidjan— The benchmark for imported designer furniture in Abidjan: A Danish franchise based in Abidjan, the benchmark for high-end imported designer furniture. It offers an in-store interior design service. Learn more →
Bornage— Boundary survey: the official marking out of a plot: A survey carried out by a licensed chartered surveyor (géomètre-expert) to mark out a plot officially. Numbered concrete boundary markers are set at the corners and an official report (procès-verbal) is drawn up. Learn more →
Builder vs architect (maçon vs architecte)— A key distinction for the diaspora: Most buildings in Côte d'Ivoire are put up by experienced builders (maçons) without an architect, even though the 2019 Construction and Housing Code requires every project to be drawn up by a licensed architect (art. 18). Learn more →
Building permit (permis de construire)— Official authorisation to start building: Required for any construction, extension, rebuilding of the main structure and even a boundary wall (2019 Construction and Housing Code, arts. 12-13). Applications go through the one-stop shop, which became the GUPCCU in April 2025, and “every construction project must be drawn up by a licensed architect” (art. 18). Learn more →

Cadastre— Official register of land plots: The set of maps and records listing plots and their boundaries, kept by the authority in charge of urban planning and land. Each urban plot is given a unique identifier, the IDUFCI. Learn more →
CAPC— Chambre des Aménageurs, Promoteurs Constructeurs de CI (chamber of land developers, property developers and builders): A professional body bringing together 16 developers with long experience and solid references. Professionals in the sector recommend it as the first selection criterion. Learn more →
Certificat d'urbanisme— Planning certificate: the rules that apply to a plot: A document that sets out the rules that apply to a plot: permitted use, restrictions, building lines, easements, whether it can be built on. Learn more →
Chartered surveyor (géomètre-expert)— Licensed professional for boundary surveys and land measurement: A professional registered with the Ordre des géomètres-experts de Côte d'Ivoire (OGECI), authorised to measure, mark out and survey the boundaries of land. Together with the urban planning services, only they may set out a subdivision plan on the ground (Law No. 2020-624, art. 96). Learn more →
Client role (maîtrise d'ouvrage)— The role of the person who commissions the project: That is you: the person who commissions and pays for the building. The maître d'ouvrage sets the brief (floor area, budget, timescale), signs the contracts with the builders and accepts the finished works. Learn more →
CNAICI— Conseil National des Architectes d'Intérieur de Côte d'Ivoire (national council of interior architects): A professional body founded on 23 May 2009 in Bingerville, under the supervision of the Ministry of Culture (not the MCLU). It has only 16 licensed members across the whole country. Learn more →
CNPC-CI— Confédération Nationale des Promoteurs Constructeurs de CI (national confederation of developers and builders): The trade body representing all licensed developers and builders in Côte d'Ivoire. It is the MCLU's counterpart in negotiations for the sector (social housing, tax incentives). Learn more →
Compulsory use of an architect— What the Construction Code says (and the 120 m² threshold): “Every construction project must be drawn up by a licensed architect” (2019 Construction and Housing Code, art. 18). The Code sets no floor-area threshold. Only homes that follow standard plans approved by the minister are exempt from a permit, with a prior declaration instead (arts. 17 and 22). Learn more →
CONALOG— Commission Nationale d'Attribution des Logements Sociaux (national social housing allocation commission): Created by MCLU order No. 0030 of 24 June 2024. The official body responsible for allocating social housing transparently. Its existence is a step forward against informal allocations. Learn more →
Consulting engineer (ingénieur-conseil)— Compulsory from R+2 upwards: A structural engineering professional (reinforced concrete, foundations, floors) who must be brought in for any building of R+2 (ground floor plus two storeys) or more. They work alongside the architect: the architect designs the space, the engineer ensures the structure is stable. Learn more →
Coordinating craftspeople (coordination artisans)— Managing a network of local tradespeople: A key skill of an interior designer in Côte d'Ivoire: they coordinate painters, cabinetmakers (bespoke furniture), aluminium joiners (wardrobes, kitchens), tilers and upholsterers. Their network of reliable craftspeople is their main competitive asset. Learn more →
Cosopimac— The landmark case of a mass scam: A landmark case: around 4,500 Ivorians, living in the country and in the diaspora, paid 17 billion FCFA to a succession of developers between 2012 and 2017 for a project that was never built. Learn more →
Counterfeit reinforcing steel (fer à béton contrefait)— A major risk in Côte d'Ivoire's building materials market: The Ivorian market for reinforcing steel is flooded with substandard products, directly responsible for building collapses in Abidjan. The welded mesh, reinforcing bars and rebar sold on the informal market do not meet tensile strength standards. Learn more →
Customary rights (droit coutumier)— Traditional rights over land: The set of traditional rights over land that are recognised locally (chieftaincy, families, lineages, historical occupation, right of use). Learn more →

DCE— Dossier de Consultation des Entreprises (tender documents): The package prepared by the architect or project supervisor so that building contractors can bid against each other. It contains the construction drawings, the technical specification of the works and the contract terms. Learn more →
Developer's global title (titre global promoteur)— A common legal trap in off-plan (VEFA) developments: Some developers keep a single “global” land title for the whole development and are slow to issue individual titles. The buyer is only the legal owner under the individual title in their own name. Learn more →
Diaspora option— Ways of buying designed for non-residents: Several developers offer specific terms for the diaspora: buying with no initial deposit, paying 100% over 36 months, a dedicated French-speaking adviser, video calls. SIIPAF, for example, offers “Diaspora” packages with payment over 36 months from abroad. Learn more →

EAA— École d'Architecture d'Abidjan (Abidjan School of Architecture): The first school of architecture in Côte d'Ivoire, opened in 2015 to address a structural shortage of professionals. It follows the LMD system (Licence-Master-Doctorat, the bachelor's-master's-doctorate structure). Learn more →
Easement (servitude)— A legal restriction on how a property can be used: A legal restriction on the use of a property for the benefit of another property or of the public interest. Examples in Côte d'Ivoire: right of way (a shared path), building line (a minimum distance from the road), public utility easement (networks). Learn more →
Escrow account (compte séquestre)— Paying through the notary's account: What is commonly called “escrow” (séquestre): the notary must open a bank deposit account dedicated to the funds they receive, keep separate accounts for each client, and may not hold money on behalf of a third party for more than 6 months (Law No. 2018-897 on the status of notaries, arts. 22-23). Learn more →
État foncier— Land status report: the full administrative position of a plot: A document issued by the Conservation foncière (land registry office) showing the rights and charges on a title on the day of the request (mortgages, other charges). The état historique, for its part, traces every transfer. Learn more →
État hypothécaire— Mortgage search: is the property mortgaged?: A check that shows whether a property is subject to a mortgage or another charge. Learn more →
Event decorator (décorateur événementiel)— A specialist in decorating for events: A separate profession, very widespread in Côte d'Ivoire, for weddings, christenings, galas and birthdays. Often confused with residential interior designers in directories. They do not design permanent interiors. Learn more →

Fake developer (faux promoteur)— The scam of the housing development that does not exist: Operators without an MCLU licence who market fake housing developments on social media. The MCLU issued an official warning in March 2024. The Cosopimac affair (2012-2017): 4,500 victims, 17 billion FCFA lost. Learn more →
Financial guarantee (garantie financière)— Legal protection for buyers: The developer must provide a financial guarantee of at least 2,000,000 FCFA from a bank or through professional liability insurance. This guarantee protects buyers if the developer fails. Learn more →
Full architectural service (mission complète)— What an architect's job really covers in Côte d'Ivoire: In Côte d'Ivoire, an architect's job goes well beyond drawing plans. It typically includes: (1) APS/APD, the outline and detailed designs, (2) the GUPC permit file, (3) DCE, the tender process for contractors, (4) weekly site supervision with written reports, Learn more →
Full ownership (pleine propriété)— Complete rights over a property: The situation in which a person legally holds complete rights over a property: to use it, to enjoy its income and to dispose of it. Learn more →

GUF— Guichet Unique du Foncier (land one-stop shop): The administrative entry point for land procedures, in particular obtaining an ACD. Learn more →
GUPC / GUPCCU— One-stop shop for building permits (and planning control): The office that handles building permit applications, set up in 2016 to bring the procedures together in one place. In April 2025 it became the GUPCCU, Guichet unique du permis de construire et du contrôle urbain, the one-stop shop for building permits and planning control (Council of Ministers of 9 April 2025). Learn more →

Handover (réception)— The official act that closes the building works: The official act by which the maître d'ouvrage (you) accepts that the works are finished. It starts the clock on the guarantees (ten-year liability, two-year guarantee). It can be signed with or without reservations (a list of defects to be put right). Learn more →

IDUFCI— Identifiant Unique du Foncier de Côte d'Ivoire (unique land parcel identifier): A unique identification number given to every plot of land in Côte d'Ivoire, whatever its legal status. It lets surveyors, architects, notaries and banks check digitally that a plot exists and what its legal position is. Learn more →
Imported furniture— Furniture and accessories bought outside Côte d'Ivoire: Furniture and decorative accessories imported into Côte d'Ivoire are subject to 20% customs duty plus 18% VAT. The diaspora often imagines bringing furniture over from France or ordering online. It is possible, but expensive. Learn more →
Informal construction— The dominant reality of the Ivorian market: Most buildings in Côte d’Ivoire go up without a building permit or a licensed architect, even though a permit is required for any construction (2019 Construction and Housing Code, art. 12). Learn more →
INSAAC— Institut National Supérieur des Arts et de l'Action Culturelle (national institute of arts and cultural action): The only public institution in Côte d'Ivoire offering training in interior architecture. It awards a professional master's-level degree in Applied Arts, specialising in Interior Architecture. The course is being revised as part of an LMD (bachelor's-master's-doctorate) reform. Learn more →
Interior designer's full service— What the service really covers in Côte d'Ivoire: In Côte d'Ivoire, an interior designer's job includes: (1) measuring up and assessing the existing space, (2) 2D/3D plans and sketches (SketchUp, AutoCAD, Home Designer), (3) choosing materials, finishes and textiles, (4) sourcing furniture locally and/or from abroad, Learn more →

Land speculation— Buying to sell on at a higher price: Buying land in the hope that its value will rise sharply with new roads, subdivisions, amenities or urban growth. Common on the outskirts of Abidjan. Learn more →
Lettre d'attribution— Allocation letter: provisional allocation of a plot: A document issued by the town hall or the developer of a subdivision, allocating a plot to a named person. It is an intermediate step, not a final title of ownership. Learn more →
Livre foncier— The official register of property titles: The register kept by the Conservation foncière (land registry office), in which land titles, ACDs and their transfers are published. This is where you check the property rights and charges attached to a property. Learn more →
Local materials— Cheaper alternatives suited to Côte d'Ivoire: Côte d'Ivoire has local materials that cost less than imported ones: fired clay, compressed earth blocks (BTC), local gravel, tropical hardwoods. Used properly, these materials offer excellent thermal and acoustic performance suited to the climate. Learn more →
Long lease (bail emphytéotique)— A very long-term right of use: A very long lease (often 18 to 99 years) used for large institutional or commercial projects. Learn more →
Lotissement— Subdivision of land into plots: The division of a piece of land into several plots. The crucial point: knowing whether the subdivision has been approved by the authorities. Learn more →
Lotissement villageois— Village subdivision: land divided up by a village community: Land divided into plots by a village community: attractive because it is cheaper, but high-risk (multiple sales, plots that do not exist, chieftaincy disputes, no approval, family disputes). Learn more →

MCLU licence (agrément MCLU)— The compulsory authorisation to operate: Every property developer in Côte d'Ivoire must be licensed by the ministry in charge of Construction (currently the MULCV, formerly the MCLU). The application includes administrative documents, references for past projects, proof of financial capacity and a guarantee of 2,000,000 FCFA (from a bank, or through professional liability insurance). Learn more →
Moodboard— A tool for agreeing on a style: A visual document (physical or digital) bringing together colours, materials, furniture and references to agree on the style before buying anything. An essential tool for diaspora projects managed from a distance. Learn more →
Mortgage (hypothèque)— A charge on a property granted to a bank: Security granted to a bank over a property in exchange for a loan. In Côte d'Ivoire, an ACD or titre foncier (land title) free of any charge is required to create a mortgage. Learn more →
Multiple sale (vente multiple)— One plot sold to several buyers: A classic scam in which the same plot is sold to several people, especially when records are badly kept, when the land has no title, or when several parties claim authority over it. Learn more →

Notice Sécurité Incendie— Fire safety statement, required for certain projects: A technical document required in the permit application for buildings open to the public or above certain height thresholds. Minimum cost: 160,000 FCFA per plot. Learn more →

OAA-CI licence (agrément OAA-CI)— Registration number on the Order's register: The number the Order gives to each architect on its register, in the format “OAA-CI YYYY-XXXX”. “Every construction project must be drawn up by a licensed architect” (2019 Construction and Housing Code, art. 18). It can be checked publicly on oarchitectes.ci. Learn more →
OACI / CNOA-CI— Ordre des Architectes de Côte d'Ivoire (the architects' professional body): The body that oversees and regulates the practice of architecture in Côte d'Ivoire. Every architect practising legally must be registered with it. It was established by Law No. 70-488 of 3 August 1970. Learn more →
OPC— Ordonnancement, Pilotage et Coordination (scheduling and site coordination): A specific role given to a site coordinator to plan the sequence of trades (foundations, masonry, electrics, plumbing…) and make sure the schedule and budget are kept to. Learn more →

PELAF— Programme Élargi de Logement et d'Aménagement Foncier (extended housing and land development programme): A programme to secure and service more than 2,000 hectares of national land reserves and make them available to developers. Learn more →
PPLSE— Programme de Production de Logements Sociaux et Économiques (social and affordable housing programme): The Ivorian government's flagship programme, aiming for 500,000 homes by 2030. It includes public-private partnerships (PPPs), the clearing of customary rights in exchange for land (purge par dation), and rent-to-own over 15 years. Learn more →
Project supervision (maîtrise d'œuvre)— Designing the project and overseeing the works: The role entrusted to the architect (and the engineering firms working with them) to design the project and oversee the works. The maître d'œuvre approves the construction drawings, checks quality and signs off progress payments on the client's behalf. Learn more →
Property developer (promoteur immobilier)— The party behind a new-build development: A professional (individual or company) who designs, finances and delivers new housing developments, from finding the land to handing over the homes. They coordinate more than 20 trades and professions: surveyors, architects, bankers, builders, craftspeople. Learn more →

Quitus fiscal— Tax clearance certificate: A document certifying that a person or a transaction is up to date with tax obligations. Learn more →

Remote diaspora project— Specific support from abroad: An interior design project managed from Paris, Montreal or Brussels needs a designer used to working this way: weekly photos, video calls for approvals, sending material samples, a power of attorney for local purchases. Learn more →
Remote project monitoring (suivi diaspora)— Managing a building site from a distance: Some architects specialise in working with clients based in Europe, Canada or the USA. Their service includes regular video calls, weekly photos and videos of the site, written reports at each stage, and a notarised power of attorney to sign documents. Learn more →
Rent-to-own (location-vente)— A way to become an owner step by step: A scheme that lets you live in a home and pay for it gradually over 15 years, until you own it. It was introduced by the MCLU to make home ownership more accessible. Learn more →
Residential interior designer (décorateur résidentiel)— A specialist in fitting out private spaces: A professional who designs and carries out the interior fit-out of villas, flats and offices. Not to be confused with an event decorator. Learn more →
Risk classification (R+)— Ranking projects by level of structural risk: Following building collapses in Abidjan, the MCLU introduced a classification by level of risk based on the number of storeys (R+2 means ground floor plus two storeys). R+2 and above: an architect AND a consulting engineer are compulsory. R+3 and above: more detailed technical documents. Learn more →

SIGFU— Système Intégré de Gestion du Foncier Urbain (integrated urban land management system): The State’s platform for urban land (Decree No. 2021-862): applications for land documents are processed there, and the ACD is signed electronically on it. Learn more →
SIPIM— Société Ivoirienne de Promotion Immobilière (Ivorian property development company): One of the major players in the sector, founded in 1990. It has built around 20,000 homes across the various communes (municipalities) of Abidjan. Learn more →
Site servicing (viabilisation)— Works that make a plot usable: The works that make a plot genuinely usable: roads, water, electricity, drainage, sewerage, sometimes telecoms. Learn more →
Social housing (logement social)— Homes built under the PPLSE programme: Homes built under the Programme de Production de Logements Sociaux et Économiques (PPLSE, the social and affordable housing programme). Prices are generally below 15 million FCFA. Developers benefit from tax exemptions (more than 100 billion FCFA granted). Learn more →

Ten-year liability (décennale)— The ten-year building guarantee: Compulsory insurance covering, for 10 years after handover, damage that undermines the soundness of the building or makes it unfit for its purpose. Learn more →
Titre foncier— Land title: the final proof of land ownership: The ownership right that results from registration in the Livre foncier (land register). Since Law No. 2024-351, it can no longer be the subject of an action for annulment (new art. 162). Learn more →
Titre foncier individuel— Individual land title: ownership in your own name: The final ownership document issued in the buyer’s name, separate from the “global” land title held by the developer for the whole development. You are only the legal owner once the individual title has been issued in your name. Learn more →
Titre mère— Parent land title, before subdivision: A land title covering a large plot before it is divided into individual plots. Learn more →
Transfer of ownership (mutation)— The transfer of a property from one owner to another: The transfer of ownership of a property from one person to another, which must be formalised and registered. Learn more →
Tropical hardwoods— Local raw materials for furniture: Côte d'Ivoire produces iroko, mahogany, sipo, framiré and wenge locally: species used for bespoke furniture and wooden flooring. These woods last very well in Abidjan's humid tropical climate (resistant to insects and damp). Learn more →

Unauthorised construction (construction anarchique)— Building without permission or outside the plan: Building without authorisation, in breach of the urban plan, in a prohibited zone, on an easement, on public land or on disputed land. Such buildings can be demolished. Learn more →

VEFA— Vente en l'État Futur d'Achèvement (off-plan purchase): Buying a home that has not yet been built, on the basis of plans and a notarial contract. Payments are staged according to how far the works have progressed. Learn more →
Village land (terrain villageois)— Cheaper, riskier: A plot that comes from the customary system or from a village subdivision: often cheaper than land with a title, but far riskier. Learn more →
Visa DDU— Approval stamp from the Direction du Domaine Urbain (urban land directorate): An approval issued by the Direction du Domaine Urbain that officially authenticates the applicant's title to the land (ACD or lettre d'attribution). It is the first document the GUPC checks before examining an application. Learn more →

By category

Four areas, the essentials of each

41 terms

Land

41 key terms for investing in property in Côte d’Ivoire without getting scammed: ownership rights, land traps, construction, notarial deeds.

22 terms

Architects

21 essential terms of the architecture profession in Côte d’Ivoire: OACI, OAA-CI, GUPC, risk classifications, sourcing materials, managing a project from the diaspora.

17 terms

Property developers

16 essential terms of property development in Côte d’Ivoire: MCLU licence, CAPC, the PPLSE and PELAF programmes, risks for the diaspora (Cosopimac), financing options.

14 terms

Interior designers

13 essential terms of interior design in Côte d’Ivoire: CNAICI, INSAAC, bespoke cabinetmaking, tropical hardwoods, managing a project from the diaspora.

Ready to move forward with confidence?

Find a verified professional and contact them directly — no commission, no middleman.

Contact a verified pro →Verify a professional