Issuance of building permits rises 93% in the first four months of the year, says Ito Bisonó

The official announced changes to the Single Window system, a new technical system, and an alliance with industrial associations

SANTO DOMINGO.– At a time when real estate and tourism growth is accelerating the urban transformation of the East of the country, the Minister of Housing, Habitat and Buildings (MIVHED), Víctor “Ito” Bisonó, announced a series of measures aimed at streamlining construction processes and strengthening the coordination between the State and the private sector.

“We identified a very clear priority: permitting. Because that's where two fundamental elements connect: the safety of what is being built and the confidence that investment needs to keep moving forward,” said Bisonó during the opening of CONSTRUEXPO 2026.

New changes to speed up approvals

Among the main announcements made by the official is a new stage of the Single Window for Construction, which will now be focused on a more integrated, modern and transparent platform.

He also reported on the implementation of the NORM system, a tool designed to standardize the technical criteria used during the evaluation of files and permits.

As he explained, these measures aim to reduce delays, improve institutional coordination, and generate greater predictability for real estate and infrastructure projects.

Bisonó also revealed that, during the first four months of 2026, licenses issued registered an increase of 93%, going from 380 to 665 approvals compared to the same period of the previous year.

According to the figures presented, the approvals represent investments exceeding RD$230,544 million.

“That means more projects moving forward, more investment being activated, and more economic dynamism moving in the country,” the official said.

A new alliance for the construction sector

During his speech, the Minister of Housing also announced the creation of the Alliance for the Promotion of the Construction Sector, an initiative promoted together with the Association of Industries of the Dominican Republic (AIRD) and other business associations.

According to him, the objective of this space will be to strengthen production chains, promote joint solutions and accelerate the sustainable growth of the industry.

The announcement comes amid a real estate expansion in Punta Cana and other areas of the East, where hotel, residential, commercial and mixed-use projects are currently being developed.

Construction, innovation and urban growth

The 2026 edition of CONSTRUEXPO brought together more than 48 exhibiting companies, 16 international firms and business representation from Italy, Spain, Panama, Ecuador, Colombia and the United States.

In addition to serving as a commercial and business platform, the fair includes technical conferences on modular construction, sustainability, urban resilience, industrialization and cost control, topics that are now part of the main discussions in the sector.

“The demand for new tourism, residential, and mixed-use developments is transforming the industry. The challenge lies in continuing to grow with planning, sustainability, and innovation,” stated Annerys Meléndez, president of ACOPROVI.

For his part, Mario Betances, president of ADECLA, the Association of Builders of La Altagracia, pointed out that the incorporation of new technologies and industrialized models marks a new stage for national construction development.

Recommended readings:

• MIVHED presents RD$150 million investment project to reorganize roads in Los Praditos
• Builders in Santo Domingo East want a one-stop shop to process permits from that area
• This is how the social housing tender opened by the MIVHED will work