Short answer: For a qualifying building, obtain the relevant Preliminary Planning Clearance, register with UDA's Environment and Landscape Division, prepare evidence against the National Green Building Guidelines, submit and pay for Design Assessment (DA), then document the as-built work for Completion and Verification Assessment (CVA). A registration letter is not a green certificate, and a draft score is not an awarded rating.
UDA's current published instructions cite the 2021 planning regulation for development activities of 1,000 m² or more, with stated exceptions including industrial buildings and factories. Check the category and current instructions for the actual project. This article draws on those UDA instructions and an anonymised 2025 Structa apartment/mixed-use design file; the latter illustrates the workflow, not a certified outcome.
What are the stages?
| Stage | Main purpose | Evidence to retain |
|---|---|---|
| Preliminary Planning Clearance | Confirm the proposal's planning basis and conditions | PPC and site documents |
| Registration | Open the project in UDA's green-building process | Registration letter and number |
| Design Assessment | Have the proposed design and supporting calculations assessed | Signed report, plans, fee letter and UDA decision |
| Construction monitoring | Show that the intended measures are actually implemented | Inspection records, product data, test results and photographs |
| Completion and Verification Assessment | Verify the completed building against the submitted evidence | CVA report, inspection outcome and final certificate if awarded |
The UDA publishes registration and reporting instructions and a green-building guideline. Its instructions say PPC should come first. The registration package includes the completed form, survey and location material, identity documentation and company records where applicable. The registration fee stated in UDA's 2025 instructions was LKR 5,000 plus taxes, totalling LKR 6,047.50 then; ask UDA for the present amount.
How Design Assessment works
DA is evidence-based. A consultant should coordinate architecture, energy, water, materials, site planning and indoor-environment claims, with drawings and calculations signed or sealed by the responsible professionals. UDA's instruction sheet says the client asks for a fee letter based on floor area, submits the report and supporting plans, and pays the DA portion before technical evaluation. It describes a 40/100 minimum for a provisional certificate, with higher Silver, Gold and Platinum ranges. The provisional outcome depends on UDA's evaluation, not an applicant's spreadsheet total.
In the anonymised Structa file, a 2025 draft report self-assessed design measures such as lighting zoning, water metering, rainwater harvesting, construction-waste planning and daylight. We have not seen a UDA-issued provisional or final certificate for that example, so we do not claim it was certified or achieved a rating. This is a useful distinction when a developer is comparing design claims with authority decisions.
What did an actual 2025 fee letter say?
For a 9,670.09 m² apartment/mixed-use proposal, the supplied UDA letter dated June 2025 applied a stated LKR 175/m² band before a LKR 1.5 million base-fee cap. It calculated a LKR 1,360,687.50 DA-stage payment and a LKR 453,562.50 CVA-stage amount, including the taxes shown in that letter. A separate receipt verifies the DA payment. The CVA figure is a calculation, not proof of later payment or certification. The anonymised fee excerpt below preserves the numbers without the client's name, site, file number or signature.
Those figures document one historic application, not a 2026 tariff. The UDA may change fees and taxes; obtain a fresh written fee notice for your floor area. Do not rely on a screenshot or pay an intermediary who promises certification. UDA's own notice advises applicants to pay only amounts specified in writing by the relevant authority officer.
Design for verification, not just points
A robust submission identifies, for each claimed measure, the design drawing, specification, calculation, responsible professional and later as-built proof. Metering, efficient lighting, ventilation and daylight need coordinated architectural and MEP details. Landscaping, stormwater and rainwater proposals need site and drainage plans. Material and waste-management claims need procurement and site records. If the design changes during construction, maintain the evidence trail and ask UDA how the change affects the assessment.
UDA's 2025 instructions describe inspections during construction and a final CVA report and site inspection. They distinguish a provisional design-stage certificate from the final certificate. A development permit, green certificate and CoC each answer a different question; do not substitute one for another.
Frequently asked questions
Is National Green Building Certification mandatory for every building?
No. UDA's published guidance cites the 1,000 m² threshold and exceptions. Confirm the proposal's floor area, use and current applicability with UDA.
Does registering with UDA mean the building is green certified?
No. Registration opens the assessment process. The supplied project registration letter specifically says it is not a qualification for a development permit.
How many marks are needed for a provisional certificate?
UDA's 2025 instruction sheet states a minimum of 40 out of 100 at DA, subject to its technical evaluation. An applicant's claimed total is not the authority's score.
Is the 2025 fee example a quote for my new project?
No. It is a transparent historic example based on a particular floor area, letter and tax calculation. Ask UDA for a current written fee notice.
Can Structa coordinate a green-building submission with apartment design?
Structa can align design drawings and technical evidence for a site-specific application, alongside the relevant professionals. Speak with Structa early, ideally before architecture and building services are fixed.
Sources and scope
- UDA National Green Building Certification instructions
- UDA Green Building Rating page
- UDA Green Building Guidelines
- Structa-supplied 2025 anonymised registration, DA draft, fee letter and DA receipt. No final certificate was supplied.
General information checked in September 2026; UDA's written project-specific directions prevail.
Use this guide as general information
Site conditions, authority requirements and construction decisions vary by project. Confirm project-specific architectural and engineering matters with appropriately qualified professionals before relying on them for construction.
