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Hotel classification in Senegal

Senegal has the clearest legal text in the region, Decree 2005-145, and the most complete fire safety framework. Yet few properties are classified: 101 out of 901 in 2019, the latest published figures.

Written by Emiliano, last updated .

At a glance

Legal basis
Decree 2005-145 of 2 March 2005
Authority
National Licensing and Classification Commission
Procedure
Prior operating approval, then classification by ministerial order
Classification plaque
Mandatory on the main facade (article 17)
Criteria grid
Implementing orders not found online
Properties recorded in 2022
1,172

The legal framework

Senegalese legislation is published in French only; the summaries on this page are our own translation.

Decree No. 2005-145 of 2 March 2005 regulating tourist accommodation establishments is available in full[1][2]. It covers hotels, motels, holiday villages, inns, village camps (campements villageois), serviced residences and furnished apartments (article 1).

Prior operating approval (agrément) is granted by ministerial order on the basis of a technical and financial file (a three-year budget forecast and plans that comply with classification standards), after review by the national commission (articles 5 to 9)[1]. A ministerial reminder issued in April 2026 still cites this decree[3]. The legal framework is the subject of one of the seven commissions of the EGCAT, the States General on culture, crafts and tourism launched on 9 April 2026[4].

Categories

Classification is granted by ministerial order after review by the commission (articles 10 and 11)[1]:

  • hotels and serviced residences: luxe (luxury), then first to fourth category, corresponding to levels 5 to 1;
  • inns, holiday villages, village camps, motels and furnished apartments: categories A, B and C, corresponding to levels 3 to 1.

The decree sets no period of validity for a classification; the implementing orders (criteria grid, design of the plaque) have not been found online.

The commission and the classification plaque

The National Licensing and Classification Commission (articles 12 to 16) is chaired by the director of tourism regulation; it brings together the ministries concerned and the hoteliers’ and travel agents’ associations, and meets at least every two months. The panonceau, the official classification plaque, must be displayed on the main facade (article 17), and downgrading is provided for (article 18). Articles 19 to 25 require, among other things, the category to be stated in all advertising, public liability insurance and periodic inspections[1].

Key figures

In May 2019, the ministry recorded 901 establishments, of which 101 were classified[5]. In August 2019, 68 establishments were classified and classification plaques were put up in Dakar[6]. In August 2022, the directorate of tourism regulation recorded 1,172 accommodation establishments[7]. No classification figures have been published since.

Fire safety and accessibility

Order No. 5945 MINT-PC of 14 May 1969 on fire and panic safety in public-access buildings (établissements recevant du public, or ERP) places hotels in “type O”, the French-derived fire safety category for hotels[8]. The Construction Code divides these buildings into five categories by occupancy, requires an acceptance inspection by the Civil Protection commissions before opening (article R.33) and requires access for people with disabilities (article R.24)[9][10].

Social Policy Act 2010-15 of 6 July 2010 prohibits authorising the construction or renovation of a public-access building that does not meet accessibility standards (article 32)[11].

Frequently asked questions

Do I need approval before opening a hotel in Senegal?

Yes. Decree 2005-145 requires prior operating approval (agrément), granted by ministerial order on the basis of a technical and financial file, after review by the national commission. The ministry restated this requirement in April 2026.

How long is a hotel classification valid in Senegal?

Decree 2005-145 sets no period of validity for a classification. It does, however, provide for downgrading.

Which fire safety rules apply to hotels in Senegal?

Order 5945 of 14 May 1969 places hotels in the “type O” category of public-access buildings, and the 2009 Construction Code requires an acceptance inspection by the Civil Protection commissions before opening.

Sources

Consulted on 11 September 2026. Each source is identified by website, title and publication date. Most are published in French only: titles are given in the original, followed by our translation in square brackets.

  1. [1]Décret 2005-145 du 2 mars 2005 (Sénégal) [Decree 2005-145 of 2 March 2005 (Senegal)], full text, au-senegal.com (PDF)
  2. [2]Juridoc Sénégal, décret 2005-145 [Decree 2005-145]; mcat.gouv.sn, online application service for operating approval
  3. [3]AllAfrica, regulatory reminder from the Ministry of Tourism, 24 April 2026
  4. [4]Senegal Insights and Teranga Times, launch of the EGCAT 2026, April 2026
  5. [5]SenePlus, « 800 établissements hôteliers dans l’illégalité » [800 hotels operating illegally], 10 May 2019
  6. [6]Dakaractu, pose de panonceaux à Dakar [classification plaques put up in Dakar], 19 August 2019
  7. [7]Setal.net, « Voici le nombre exact d’hôtels 5 étoiles au Sénégal » [The exact number of 5-star hotels in Senegal], 29 August 2022
  8. [8]Arrêté 5945 MINT-PC du 14 mai 1969 [Order 5945 MINT-PC of 14 May 1969] (unofficial copies online)
  9. [9]Loi 2009-23 du 8 juillet 2009 portant Code de la construction [Law 2009-23 of 8 July 2009, Construction Code], primature.sn
  10. [10]Décret 2010-99 du 27 janvier 2010, partie réglementaire du Code de la construction [Decree 2010-99 of 27 January 2010, regulatory part of the Construction Code], droit-afrique.com
  11. [11]WATHI, loi d’orientation sociale 2010-15 du 6 juillet 2010 [Social Policy Act 2010-15 of 6 July 2010]