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Real estate in Dakar: land titles, leases, délibérations, buying costs, renting and land traps

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Real estate in Dakar: land titles, leases, délibérations, buying costs, renting and land traps
Guide

June 7, 2026

30 min

· Koffi A. Hounnou

In Dakar, property can only be sold outright if it is registered in the land book: under Senegal's Law No. 2011-07 of 30 March 2011 on land ownership, a land title (titre foncier) is "final and unchallengeable" (article 42), and a sale goes through a notarial deed followed by registration at the land registry. A plot of State land held under a lease, or a plot of national domain land allocated by a municipal decision (délibération), does not carry the same rights: the lease is governed by the State Domain Code, and the allocation only grants a right of use that cannot be the subject of any transaction. When buying titled property, Senegal's General Tax Code sets a registration duty of 5% of the price, on top of land registration duties, stamp duty and notary fees. For rentals, Decree No. 2023-382 caps the deposit at two months' rent for rents of 500,000 FCFA or less, with only one month payable on moving in, bans rent paid in advance and limits the agency fee to half a month. Imonga publishes no prices for Dakar because it has no listings in Senegal; as of 14 September 2026, the site lists 14 property developments and 42 Senegalese professionals.

Dakar property prices: why this page does not give any

We do not publish rents by neighbourhood or prices per square metre. As of 14 September 2026, Imonga has no published listings in Senegal, and we found no recent public statistics on Dakar property prices that explain their method. Earlier versions of this page and of our article on Dakar market trends gave rent and price-per-square-metre ranges by neighbourhood, mortgage rates and overall buying costs without any source: those figures have been removed.

The official figures we read on rents describe a long-standing squeeze, not today's prices. In January 2014, the Minister of Trade told the National Assembly's finance committee, citing studies by the national statistics agency (ANSD), that rents in the Dakar region had risen by about 256% since 1994, against 44% for average construction costs, and that 52% of landlords had inherited the homes they let (file of Law No. 2014-03, committee report). The explanatory report of the 2023 decree adds that rent then took between 34% and 37% of the income of the households concerned.

For a real price, compare similar properties in the same neighbourhood and have the property valued before signing; for a new development, ask for the developer's written, dated price list.

Land status in Dakar: what you are really buying

The first question is not the neighbourhood but the legal status of the land. In Senegal, a plot can be registered private property, part of the State's private domain leased to an individual, or national domain land on which a municipality has granted a right of use. The documents in circulation (land title, lease, délibération, occupancy permit, allocation certificate) are not worth the same.

StatusDocumentWhat it is worthLegal basis
Registered private propertyLand title (TF), entered in the land bookFull ownership, final and unchallengeable; can be sold, inherited, mortgagedLaw No. 2011-07, articles 42 to 44
State private domainOrdinary lease (bail ordinaire)Right of use for up to 18 years, subject to development; no transfer without authorisationState Domain Code, article 38
State private domainLong lease (bail emphytéotique)Real right of 18 to 50 years, can be mortgagedState Domain Code, article 39
State private domainSurface right concession25 to 50 years to build a home in an area with a detailed urban planState Domain Code, article 40
State private domainOccupancy authorisationPrecarious and revocable, light structures only, can be withdrawn without compensationState Domain Code, article 37
National domainMunicipal allocation decision (délibération)Right of use; allocated land cannot be the subject of any form of transactionLaw No. 64-46; Decree No. 72-1288 as amended in 2022

The land title: the only full ownership

Registration is governed by Law No. 2011-07 of 30 March 2011 on land ownership, published in the Official Journal of 13 August 2011. It repealed the colonial decree of 26 July 1932 (article 96): anyone still relying on that decree is citing a replaced text. The rules that matter to a buyer:

  • The title is final. A land title is final and unchallengeable (article 42). A person harmed by a registration cannot have the title cancelled, only claim compensation (article 44).
  • An unregistered right does not exist for third parties. Ownership, usufruct, long leases, surface rights, easements and mortgages only exist and take effect against third parties once published in the land book (articles 19 and 20).
  • A notarial deed is the rule. Any deed transferring or creating a real property right, and any lease of more than three years, must be an authentic deed to be registered, except for acts by the State (article 47).
  • Occupation does not make you the owner. Prescription can never be used to acquire a right over registered property; property abandoned for thirty years reverts to the State (article 33).
  • Only the State registers land. Only the State may apply to register a plot (articles 4 and 34): an individual does not "create" a title on bare land, they obtain it from the State or buy it from a holder.
  • Anyone can check. Anyone can obtain from the land registrar a statement of the charges and real rights over a given property (articles 77 and 78).

Leases on State land

A plot can also belong to the State's private domain and be held under a lease. Law No. 76-66 of 2 July 1976, the State Domain Code, provides several arrangements (article 36): occupancy authorisation, ordinary lease, long lease, surface right concession and sale. An ordinary lease runs for 18 years at most, with a development obligation, and the tenant may not assign or sublet without authorisation (article 38). A long lease runs for 18 to 50 years and grants a real right that can be mortgaged (article 39). The development obligation is recorded in the land book, and until it is lifted the land and buildings cannot be let, transferred or mortgaged without authorisation (article 43).

In practice, buying "a lease" means buying a right over land that remains the State's, subject to authorisation of the transfer. Ask for the lease deed, the statement of real rights for the State title it is recorded on, and proof that development has been certified.

Two laws opened a path to full title. Law No. 87-11 of 24 February 1987 authorised the sale of State land intended for housing in urban areas (some of its provisions were repealed in 2011). Then Law No. 2011-06 of 30 March 2011 authorised the free conversion of housing permits and similar titles into land titles in urban centres (article 1). Its explanatory statement mentions the Medina, Bopp, Hann, Grand Dakar, Pikine and Guédiawaye. On the first resale of a property converted this way, the seller must repay the State's conversion costs (article 3): ask the notary to quantify them.

Allocation decisions on national domain land

Land that in 1964 was neither registered nor classified as public domain forms the national domain, held by the State and registrable only in its name (articles 1 to 3 of Law No. 64-46 of 17 June 1964 on the national domain). Municipal councils have authority over allocating and withdrawing this land (article 81 of Law No. 2013-10, the General Local Authorities Code). In national domain subdivisions in urban areas, ownership of registered plots stays with the State, and the plot allocation decided by a committee chaired by the mayor must be approved by the State's representative (article 301).

The key point for buyers is in Decree No. 2022-2307 of 30 December 2022, which rewrote article 3 of Decree No. 72-1288: allocation of national domain land "confers a right of use", and allocated land "cannot be the subject of any form of transaction". A plot "on délibération" bought from its allottee therefore transfers no right to you: the municipality remains in charge of allocating and withdrawing that land.

The coast and public domain

Public domain land is inalienable and imprescriptible (article 9 of the State Domain Code), and any private project on the maritime public domain requires authorisation from the departmental council approved by the State's representative (article 296 of the General Local Authorities Code). The Urban Planning Code enacted by Law No. 2023-20 of 29 December 2023, which replaced Law No. 2008-43, sets special rules for coastal areas, lake and river banks and the Niayes wetlands. Before buying near the sea or a wetland, ask for a certificat d'urbanisme, the document stating the planning rules, easements and zoning that apply to the plot.

Buying titled property: the steps

The procedure is described by the tax and land administration (DGID) in its leaflet "How to acquire a land title belonging to a private individual", a copy of which is available online (undated). It must involve the notary with territorial jurisdiction, and duties and taxes must be paid through the notary. The DGID also recommends paying the price into the notary's client account.

  1. Choose a notary and have them check the file as soon as you make an offer, before any deposit.
  2. Obtain the statement of real rights (état des droits réels). On request, the registrar issues this document showing the registered owner, the property and any charges (mortgage, enforcement order). The leaflet gives a three-day turnaround and a cost "generally between 500 and 1,500 FCFA". Insist on a recent statement: the seller's copy of the title may not show a later entry (article 59 of Law No. 2011-07).
  3. File the prior transaction declaration with the Director of State Lands. It is free and does not block the purchase, according to the DGID, which links it to Law No. 2013-04 of 8 July 2013, which replaced the 1977 prior-authorisation regime.
  4. Check the plot itself: boundaries with a surveyor, the certificat d'urbanisme, and whether the area is affected by the land freezes described below. When a title is subdivided, the plan filed at the registry is checked by a cadastre surveyor in the presence of the parties (article 74 of Law No. 2011-07), and moving boundary markers is a criminal offence (article 93).
  5. Sign the deed of sale at the notary's office, buyer and seller, and pay the notary the provisions for duties.
  6. Let the notary file the deed at the land registry for the combined formality: registration and land publication at the same time. The leaflet gives a regulatory time limit of 30 days, and the Tax Code requires publication within one month of registration when the formalities are combined (article 536).
  7. Obtain the new statement of real rights in your name, which records the transfer.

For an apartment, the same logic applies to the building's land title and its co-ownership arrangements; see our guide to buying an apartment in Dakar.

Buying costs in Senegal: what the texts set

The rates below come from the General Tax Code (Law No. 2012-31 as amended), read in an annotated version updated to October 2025. The duty on property sales was cut from 10% to 5% by Law No. 2015-06 of 23 March 2015. A later finance law may have changed these rates: ask the notary for a written, itemised statement before signing.

ItemAmountLegal basis
Registration duty on the sale of a property5% of the priceTax Code, article 472-II
Transfer of State land for housing3%Tax Code, article 472-III
Sale of social housing by an approved developer1%Tax Code, article 472-V and Decree No. 2016-448
Proportional land publication duty (deeds other than first registration)0.80% in the annotated Code; 1% in the DGID leafletTax Code, article 537
Fixed land publication duty5,000 FCFA per entry; 20,000 FCFA per title created on subdivisionTax Code, article 537
Stamp duty2,000 FCFA per sheet according to the DGID leafletDGID leaflet
Notary fees and VATRegulated sliding scale (Decree No. 2006-1366 as amended): ask for the calculationDGID leaflet
Registrar's feesSet by decreeLaw No. 2011-07, articles 94 and 95

We could not establish why the annotated Code shows 0.80% for land publication while the undated DGID leaflet shows 1%. That is exactly the kind of line to have the notary confirm.

The DGID leaflet gives an example for a 30 million FCFA land title free of charges. It shows how the costs are structured, not a current quote:

Item (DGID example, undated)Amount
Registration duty (5% of 30,000,000)1,500,000 FCFA
Land publication fees (1% of 30,000,000)300,000 FCFA
Fixed duty7,500 FCFA
Stamps (3-sheet deed in 3 copies)18,000 FCFA
Subtotal, duties and taxes1,825,500 FCFA
Notary fees1,231,000 FCFA
VAT on notary fees221,580 FCFA

The 1% social housing rate requires, among other conditions set by Decree No. 2016-448 (reproduced in the annotated Code), a first-time buyer with net income below 450,000 FCFA a month and a price of no more than 20 million FCFA including tax. To compare with other countries in the region, see our article on notary and registration costs.

Land freezes since 2024: check the area before paying

Since 2024, the State has frozen and then gradually reopened procedures in several subdivisions. According to a DGID statement reported by Dakaractu on 29 January 2025, a service note of 29 April 2024 suspended land and State-domain procedures in parts of Dakar, Thiès, Mbour and Saint-Louis, including the Corniche Ouest and Corniche Est, several Dakar subdivisions (among them "Hangars des Pèlerins", "EOGEN 1 and 2" and "Cité Batterie"), the Guédiawaye and Malika urban plans, the urban hubs of Diacksao Bambilor, Dény Birame Ndao and Daga Kholpa, and part of the Lac Rose area. A note of 13 June 2024 allowed some procedures to resume on presentation of a release clearance (quitus de mainlevée) from the land-use control directorate (DGSCOS), while other sites remained fully blocked.

The situation is still moving. After the Council of Ministers of 1 July 2026 (APS, 2 July 2026), a government statement reported by PressAfrik on 6 July 2026 targeted the second half of 2026 to finalise the paperwork, limited the lifting to regular title holders, reported the cancellation of some urban plans (Nouvelle Ville de Thiès, parts of Guédiawaye and Yeumbeul-Malika-Tivaouane Peulh) and banned resuming construction without authorisation. The Council of Ministers of 2 September 2026 again called for regulations on certain subdivisions in Dakar and Thiès.

In practice, before paying anything for a plot on the outskirts of Dakar, especially around Bambilor, Lac Rose, Guédiawaye or Malika, have the notary ask whether the plot falls in a frozen area and whether a release clearance is needed. To our knowledge, no consolidated, up-to-date list is published.

Renting in Dakar: lease, deposit and rent

Residential leases are governed by the Civil and Commercial Obligations Code (COCC), whose articles the national rent regulation commission (CONAREL) reproduces on its website, and by a 2023 decree on the conditions for moving in.

The rules of Decree No. 2023-382

Decree No. 2023-382 of 24 February 2023, published in the Official Journal of 28 February 2023, replaced articles 1 and 2 of Law No. 2014-03 of 22 January 2014, after the Constitutional Council ruled them regulatory in nature. It sets:

  • a rent cut from 1 March 2023: 15% for rents of 300,000 FCFA or less, 10% from 300,001 to 500,000 FCFA, 5% above 500,000 FCFA, for residential leases then in force; landlords who prove they still apply the 2014 reduction are excluded;
  • a deposit of no more than two months' rent for leases of 500,000 FCFA a month or less;
  • only one month of deposit payable on moving in, the balance spread over twelve months at one twelfth a month;
  • no rent in advance: rent is payable at the end of the month of occupation;
  • an agency or brokerage fee capped at half a month's rent for leases of 500,000 FCFA or less.

Example: for rent of 250,000 FCFA, the total deposit cannot exceed 500,000 FCFA, with 250,000 FCFA on moving in and 250,000 FCFA spread over twelve months (about 20,833 FCFA a month). The agency fee cannot exceed 125,000 FCFA. No month of rent can be demanded in advance. The decree sets no cap for rents above 500,000 FCFA.

The 2014 law, still available with its parliamentary file, refers to the penalties of Law No. 81-21 of 25 June 1981 on unlawful rent increases (article 3). CONAREL, created by Decree No. 2023-446 according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, handles disputes through conciliation and runs a toll-free number, 800 80 77 77, listed on its presentation page.

What the Civil and Commercial Obligations Code provides

  • Term: a residential lease is either for three years, renewed automatically, or open-ended (article 571). These rules are mandatory (article 569).
  • Rent: it is set by reference to the assessed value of the property, under terms fixed by decree (article 572), the basis of the "corrected surface" method; recoverable charges are payable on proof (article 573).
  • Tenant leaving: for an open-ended lease, two months' notice served by bailiff (article 576); for a three-year lease, six months' notice before the end of the three-year period (article 574).
  • Landlord's notice: only to take the home back for the landlord or close family (individual landlords) or to demolish and rebuild, with six months' notice (articles 574 and 576). If the repossession is not carried out as required, the landlord owes compensation of twenty-four months' rent (article 583).
  • Moving in and out: a joint inventory at the start and end, and a receipt for every payment (articles 581 and 582).
  • Subletting: only with the landlord's written consent, and the sub-rent cannot exceed the main rent, or 50% more if furnished (articles 577 and 578).
  • Sale of the home: the buyer must respect the lease if it is notarised or has a certain date (article 565). Registering the lease gives it a certain date; the Tax Code charges a 2% registration duty on fixed-term leases (article 472-IV).

The issue is not settled. In April 2025, the Prime Minister asked for proposals to amend the rules, which he described as ineffective in Dakar (RTS, 2 April 2025), and the Council of Ministers of 2 September 2026 again stressed rent regulation. As of 14 September 2026, we found no new published text replacing the 2023 decree.

Diaspora and non-residents: buying and transferring funds

Senegal uses the CFA franc, and financial dealings with other countries fall under WAEMU Regulation No. 06/2024/CM/UEMOA of 20 December 2024, which replaced the 2010 regulation (article 35). It defines direct investment as "the acquisition of non-financial assets" or a stake of at least 10% in a company. Making a foreign direct investment in a WAEMU state is free (article 15), subject to national formalities; the proceeds go through an authorised intermediary, meaning a bank, and the transaction is declared for statistical purposes to the Ministry of Finance and the BCEAO. When the asset is later sold to a resident, the bank transfers the proceeds on presentation of supporting documents. Keep the notarial deed and proof of transfers: you will need them to repatriate funds.

SN HLM, the national social housing company, offers terms for Senegalese living abroad. For its Bambilor programme, its registration sheet published online lists buyer credit from Banque Islamique du Sénégal for up to fifteen years for the diaspora, with documents including a residence permit, proof of income and the last six months of bank statements, and an application fee of 0.5% excluding tax, minimum 150,000 FCFA (SN HLM document). Its HLM Diaspora programme in Sébikhotane plans 500 serviced plots on 35 hectares, mainly for the diaspora, according to its ongoing projects page.

Buying from abroad multiplies the risks: do not hand money to a relative or middleman to "reserve" a plot. Have the title checked by a notary you choose, and pay into the notary's account or the bank account of the selling organisation.

Public housing, urban hubs and new programmes

Housing policy now runs through the national programme for housing access and urban renewal (PNALRU). According to an APS dispatch of April 2025, the Minister of Urban Planning announced 1,000 emergency homes by December 2025 and 500,000 homes over 10 to 15 years, after an audit of the 100,000-homes programme "found in place", relying in particular on the growth of SAFRU, SN HLM, SICAP and the FHS. We found no published progress report on these targets.

The Diamniadio and Lac Rose urban hubs were already cited by the government in 2014 as responses to the housing shortage. Together with Bambilor and Sébikhotane, these areas account for most of the new developments listed on Imonga, but the Diacksao Bambilor and Dény Birame Ndao hubs were also on the 2024 list of frozen areas.

A public programme is no guarantee of timing. SICAP handed over the keys to 100 villas in its Lac Rose subdivision in January 2025; its managing director himself spoke of "12 years of waiting" (business221, 31 January 2025).

On Imonga: new developments and professionals in Senegal

As of 14 September 2026, Imonga has no listings in Senegal but lists 14 property developments. Thirteen are in the Dakar region according to their pages, and one is in Bayakh, between the Diamniadio and Lac Rose hubs according to its developer. Eight are under construction, five are selling and one is completed. They are run by SN HLM (3), SICAP (3), SIPRES (3), Teyliom Properties (3) and Peacock Investments (2). The pages draw on public information: check every price and deadline with the developer before paying anything.

  • 400-home programme in Bambilor, SN HLM: 400 houses of F3, F4 and MS4 types on plots of 150 to 200 m², according to the programme page. Five villas are listed from 22,000,000 FCFA (modular F3 villa, 63 m² built according to its sheet) to 65,000,000 FCFA (200 m² MS4 villa), excluding fees, with a Banque Islamique du Sénégal account number given for each model.
  • SIPRES Lac Rose: a subdivision of 142 serviced plots of 200 to 350 m² on 4 hectares, "from the subdivision of TF 6435/R", in the Sangalkam area, according to the developer's page. It is a textbook case of land sold on a land title: each plot must receive its own title from the subdivision, which the notary can check at the registry.
  • Keur Mariétou, SIPRES: 252 villas of 150, 170 and 221 m² in Bayakh; the programme page shows prices "from" 51,775,000 FCFA (Rama F5 villa) to 76,900,000 FCFA (Fanta F6 villa).
  • Résidences du Parc, SIPRES: 9-storey buildings at the entrance to Les Almadies, apartments of 192 to 243 m² and 11 villas, with no price shown on the programme page.
  • Kerria, Teyliom Properties: a residential development in Diamniadio, built in 2017 according to the developer's page.

The professional directory has 42 entries in Senegal: 32 developers, 8 agencies and 2 listing platforms. Six carry Imonga's "verified" badge (SN HLM, SICAP SA, SIPRES, Teyliom Properties, Peacock Investments and Addoha Sénégal), which does not replace the professional card required by law (see the traps below). The financing calculator estimates a monthly payment from the price, down payment, rate and term you enter: we do not publish rates, which depend on each bank and each application.

Common traps in Dakar

The double sale

When one property is sold to two buyers, the one who registered their right in the land book wins, because a real right only exists against third parties once published (article 20 of Law No. 2011-07). Pay at signing in the notary's office, have the deed filed without delay, and demand the new statement of real rights in your name. If a dispute concerns a title, a caution entry (prénotation) authorised by the court president can be recorded to warn third parties (article 72).

The wrong document or the wrong area

A plot allocated by délibération cannot be sold (Decree No. 2022-2307). A lease on State land cannot be transferred without authorisation, and agreements made in breach are void (article 38 of the State Domain Code). A plot in a frozen area or on public domain land cannot be acquired safely. In all three cases, a receipt or "transfer certificate" makes you the holder of nothing: demand a land title, a recent statement of real rights and the notary's written opinion on the area.

The middleman without a professional card

Law No. 82-07 of 30 June 1982 makes property development, transactions and management subject to prior authorisation and a professional card (articles 2 and 3). Regularly carrying out these activities without a card, even on the side, is punishable by two months to two years in prison and a fine of 50,000 to 2,000,000 FCFA, or either penalty (article 16). Ask to see the card before paying a commission.

Three months' deposit and rent in advance

Beyond the caps of Decree No. 2023-382 set out above, refuse "viewing fees", get a receipt for every payment and contact CONAREL in case of dispute.

Other scams recur across the region; we cover them in our article on avoiding property scams in West Africa.

Who to contact

NeedContact
Statement of real rights, registration of the saleLand registry (Conservation de la propriété et des droits fonciers, DGID), through the notary
Deed of sale, statement of duties and feesA notary with territorial jurisdiction
Prior transaction declaration, lease or transfer of State landState Lands directorate (DGID)
Allocation decision, municipal subdivisionThe municipality, and the State's representative for approval
Frozen area, release clearanceLand-use control directorate (DGSCOS)
Certificat d'urbanisme, building authorisationThe planning services responsible for the municipality
BoundariesA licensed surveyor (géomètre expert)
Rent, deposit or fee disputeCONAREL (toll-free 800 80 77 77)
Social housing, public programmesSN HLM, SICAP

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a land title, a lease and a délibération in Senegal?

A land title (titre foncier) is private property registered in the land book, final and unchallengeable under Law No. 2011-07. A lease covers land that remains the State's: an ordinary lease lasts up to 18 years, a long lease 18 to 50 years, and transferring it requires authorisation. A municipal délibération on national domain land only grants a right of use, which cannot be the subject of any transaction under Decree No. 2022-2307.

How much deposit can a landlord demand in Dakar?

For rent of 500,000 FCFA a month or less, no more than two months' rent, under Decree No. 2023-382 of 24 February 2023. Only one month is payable on moving in, and the rest is spread over twelve months. Rent cannot be paid in advance and the agency fee is capped at half a month. The decree sets no cap above 500,000 FCFA.

What taxes do you pay when buying property in Dakar?

The General Tax Code sets a registration duty of 5% of the price on a property sale, 3% on the transfer of State land for housing and 1% on social housing sold by an approved developer. Land publication duties, stamp duty, notary fees and VAT on those fees come on top. Ask the notary for a written statement before signing.

Can a foreigner or a member of the diaspora buy in Dakar?

The land laws we read do not reserve land titles for nationals, and WAEMU Regulation No. 06/2024/CM/UEMOA makes direct investment by non-residents free, with funds going through a bank and a statistical declaration. The procedure is the same: notary, statement of real rights, notarial deed, registration. Keep the supporting documents to repatriate the proceeds of a future sale.

What do properties cost in Dakar?

We do not publish prices: Imonga has no listings in Senegal, and we found no recent public statistics with a method on prices by neighbourhood. The only public prices we quote are those shown by developers for their programmes, such as SN HLM in Bambilor. For an existing property, compare similar homes and have it valued before signing.

How can I tell whether a plot is affected by the land freezes?

To our knowledge, no consolidated, up-to-date list is published. Areas frozen in 2024 included the Corniches, Dakar subdivisions, the Guédiawaye and Malika plans, the Bambilor and Dény Birame Ndao hubs and part of Lac Rose. Have the notary query the authorities and ask whether a DGSCOS release clearance is needed.

Sources

Pages and texts consulted on 14 September 2026.

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