Building permits in the Dominican Republic: what you should know about costs, deadlines, and new approval processes
SANTO DOMINGO – Before erecting a residential building, developing a tourist complex, or constructing a home, there is an investment that begins long before the first stone is laid. This involves the resources needed to prepare the project, obtain the corresponding permits, and comply with the technical requirements demanded in the Dominican Republic.
The building permit is one of the fundamental documents in this process. Obtaining it requires an evaluation that may involve different institutions, administrative expenses, and specialized reviews that must be considered from the financial planning stage.
In 2026, the Ministry of Housing, Habitat and Buildings (MIVED) introduced changes to its services and announced new measures to expedite approvals. These include the goal of reducing the response time for complete and technically compliant applications to 30 days.
Knowing the current rates, evaluation periods, and available alternatives allows owners, builders, and developers to organize their projects with greater predictability.
What you need to apply for a building permit
A building permit is the official authorization that allows construction to begin in accordance with the approved plans and documents. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (MIVED) is responsible for evaluating the legal, architectural, structural, electrical, and sanitary conditions of the project.
The process is carried out through the Single Window for Construction, VUC, where the applicant can create a file, submit the corresponding documents and receive the observations that arise during the evaluation.
Although the requirements vary depending on the characteristics of the building, the ministry establishes a general documentation that must be prepared before submitting the application.
- Land documentation. Title deed and cadastral survey plans, or alternative documents accepted by applicable regulations.
- Municipal authorizations. Land use and building setback certification, in addition to the no objection to the project issued by the corresponding city council.
- Technical plans. Architectural, structural, electrical and sanitary designs prepared in accordance with construction standards.
- Specialized studies. Structural calculation reports, geotechnical studies and other technical documents required according to the project.
- Environmental authorization. Documentation issued by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, in accordance with applicable requirements.
For certain constructions, authorizations related to electricity supply, drinking water services, or the particular conditions of tourist and heritage areas may also be required.
The ministry allows the property owner to manage the application directly or hire a licensed urban manager. This professional can represent the applicant during the process, although hiring them is optional and their fees are agreed upon privately.
How much does it cost to obtain a building permit in the Dominican Republic?
One of the changes that those developing real estate projects must consider is the updating of the fees corresponding to the processing, evaluation and inspection services.
In June 2026, MIVED published a statement regarding the update to these fees. The institution explained that the adjustments aim to strengthen inspections, expand oversight capacity, and improve the technical resources used to verify building safety.
According to the official information sheet of the construction licensing service, the issuance rate is equivalent to 0.1% of the appraised value of the project when it exceeds RD$6 million.
This means that the amount is not necessarily calculated based on the initial budget submitted by the developer, but on the valuation determined during the corresponding procedure.
For example, if a project has an appraised value of RD$50 million, applying 0.1% represents RD$50,000. For a project valued at RD$200 million, the same calculation yields RD$200,000.
However, this rate does not represent all institutional payments related to authorization.
The MIVED form also identifies fees from the corresponding municipality, equivalent to 2.5% of the construction value, and from the Dominican College of Engineers, Architects and Surveyors, CODIA, equivalent to 2%.
These concepts must be reviewed according to the appraisal and the conditions of the application. The developer must also consider professional fees and the costs of the studies necessary to prepare the file.
Therefore, before establishing the final budget, it is advisable to request a breakdown of applicable payments and distinguish between institutional fees and privately contracted services.
How long does it take to get a license approved?
The duration of the procedure depends on the complexity of the project, the documentation submitted, and the assessments that need to be carried out.
The official MIVED licensing form establishes deadlines of up to 60 working days for non-complex projects and up to 120 working days for complex projects.
However, these periods should not be confused with the total time that may elapse from when a developer begins to gather the necessary authorizations until they obtain the final license.
Document preparation, approvals from other institutions, and corrections requested during the evaluation may extend the overall timeline.
Data from the ministry, collected by Diario Libre on October 14, 2026, helps to illustrate this difference. During the second quarter of 2025, the average approval time was 143.5 days, while in the same period of 2026 it reached 165.9 days.
In the first quarter of 2026, the average was 185.7 days, compared to 145.3 days recorded during the first three months of 2025.
These figures show that actual times can exceed the periods set for certain stages or categories of projects.
For those organizing an investment, the recommendation is to incorporate these references into the financial schedule and avoid committing to a construction start date without considering pending authorizations.
Why can several institutions get involved?
A building permit does not depend exclusively on the review of architectural plans.
MIVED evaluates different technical components of the project, but also needs to verify that the corresponding urban planning, environmental and sectoral regulations have been met.
The municipalities participate by issuing land use certifications, setback requirements, and no-objection notices for the project. These authorizations allow verification that the proposed construction is compatible with the urban planning regulations of its location.
The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources intervenes through the environmental authorization instruments that correspond to the characteristics of the work.
Tourism developments may also require documents from the Ministry of Tourism. Similarly, certain construction projects need permits related to roads, public utilities, or areas subject to special regulations.
This involvement of several entities explains why the technical approval of a component does not necessarily mean that the file is ready to receive the final license.
Identifying which institutions should be involved from the outset helps to organize requests and reduce the risk of discovering outstanding requirements when the project is already well underway.
How to prepare the file to reduce observations
The Single Window for Construction allows you to submit documents, receive notifications, and address corrections requested by evaluators.
The official procedure states that, when there are observations or incomplete documentation, the applicant must make the corresponding corrections to continue with the review.
Therefore, careful preparation can facilitate the process. Before submitting the application, it is advisable to carry out the following checks.
- Verify the legal documentation. Check that the land and owner details match the documents submitted.
- Validate the urban planning conditions. Confirm the permitted uses, setbacks, and applicable municipal regulations.
- Coordinate the technical plans. Verify that the architectural, structural, electrical, and plumbing designs are compatible.
- Review supplementary authorizations. Identify permits that must be obtained from other institutions.
- Follow up on the file. Check the VUC notifications and respond to the observations promptly.
Once the technical review is completed, the procedure includes the appraisal of the project and the verification of the corresponding payments.
Before issuing the license, MIVED also conducts a site inspection to verify its condition. If existing structures or completed work are found, further assessments may be required.
What changes with the 30-day approval goal?
In October 2026, the Minister of Housing and Buildings, Jean Luis Rodríguez, announced that the institution is working on an initiative to reduce the response time to building permit applications to a target of up to 30 days.
The proposal is aimed at complete files that meet the corresponding technical requirements. Its application would also take into account the complexity of each project.
Among the announced changes are the classification of applications according to their complexity, simultaneous review between technical areas, and the implementation of a single file.
The new model also includes technological tools to improve the tracking of applications and support the early detection of document inconsistencies.
One of the relevant aspects is the separation between the time used by the institution to evaluate the file and the time needed by the applicant to correct observations.
This would allow for a clearer identification of the stage each procedure is at and what the outstanding requirements are.
However, the 30-day timeframe is a goal announced by the ministry. It should not be interpreted as a guarantee of approval for all applications, nor as the elimination of permits required by other institutions.
Is it possible to make progress on some work before obtaining the final license?
One of the options that can be useful for project planning is the possibility of requesting specific authorizations while the evaluation of the main license continues.
MIVED includes Conditional Authorization for the Execution of Preliminary Works and Authorization for the Start of Partial Works.
The first allows you to request authorization for certain land preparation activities, temporary facilities and other preliminary work, provided that the corresponding technical and regulatory conditions are met.
The second allows specific parts of a construction to be carried out before obtaining the final license, but only when the competent technical areas have validated the requested scope.
Both services require that there is a pending building permit application with the ministry.
According to the institutional information sheet, these authorizations are free of charge. However, this does not eliminate the costs associated with the studies, documents, and other requirements that may be necessary.
Nor do they constitute a general permit to begin construction. The authorized work must be limited to the scope expressly approved by MIVED.
For a developer, knowing these alternatives can help organize certain preparatory activities without confusing them with the final authorization of the project.
What expenses should the processing budget include?
Before submitting an application, it is advisable to separate the construction budget from the money allocated to preparing and authorizing the project.
The license represents one of the institutional payments, but not necessarily the most important within the set of pre-execution expenses.
The main concepts to be considered include the following.
- License fee. Payment corresponding to the issuance service, calculated according to the appraised value and applicable conditions.
- Institutional fees. Payments corresponding to the city council and CODIA, according to the amounts determined for the operation.
- Professional fees. Services of architects, engineers, surveyors and other specialists who prepare technical documents.
- Complementary studies. Geotechnical evaluations, surveys and other analyses necessary to meet the requirements.
- Additional authorizations. Municipal, environmental or sectoral procedures that correspond to the characteristics of the development.
The final cost will depend on the location, dimensions, type of building, and applicable requirements.
Therefore, before starting the procedure, it is advisable to prepare a budget that identifies the mandatory payments and the necessary professional services.
More precise planning for developing projects
Obtaining a building permit is a stage that should be integrated from the beginning into the planning of any real estate investment.
Knowing the requirements, fees, and evaluation times allows for better resource allocation and organization of decisions related to design, financing, and the start of construction.
The simplification measures announced by MIVED aim to improve the management of files and offer greater clarity on response times.
While these mechanisms are moving towards implementation, document preparation, coordination among professionals and monitoring of authorizations remain fundamental elements.
For owners, builders, and investors, understanding how the process works allows for more predictable project development, compliance with relevant requirements, and reduced uncertainty during the pre-construction stages.
Official sources consulted
- Ministry of Housing, Habitat and Buildings, MIVED. Official sheet of Construction License and Associated Permits, with the requirements, procedures, fees and conditions of issuance.
- Ministry of Housing, Habitat and Buildings, MIVED. Building License Issuance Service, with the established fees and deadlines for complex and non-complex projects.
- Ministry of Housing, Habitat and Buildings, MIVED. June 2026 statement on the update of fees for services of processing plans and inspection of private buildings.
- Presidency of the Dominican Republic. Announcement regarding the MIVED initiative to achieve a target response time of 30 days for building permit applications. October 2026.
- Ministry of Housing, Habitat and Buildings, MIVED. Resolution No. 012 of 2026, on the simplification of the requirements to prove ownership of land before the Single Window for Construction.
- Dominican Government Single Portal of Services. Fact sheet for the building permit service for new construction, with information on submitting applications, corrections, and issuing authorizations.
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