SANTO DOMINGO – The Ministry of Housing, Habitat, and Buildings (Mivhed) ordered the temporary closure of several shopping centers in Santiago for operating without a building permit or final inspection certificate, mandatory requirements for the occupancy and operation of buildings in the country.
Among the closed establishments are Himalaya Superstore, Plaza Astro, and Comercial Tencent, according to the Mivhed's Vice Ministry of Standards, Regulations, and Procedures.
The institution explained that the measure was applied under the principle of administrative self-protection, which empowers the State to intervene immediately when there are risks to structural safety and the lives of citizens. According to Mivhed, the closed businesses presented
serious violations that justified the temporary suspension of their
operations.
The Ministry clarified that the closures are temporary and preventative, and that those responsible for the establishments may resume their activities once they regularize their situation in accordance with Law 687-82 and technical regulations R-004 and R-021, which require obtaining a building permit and final inspection before opening to the public.
The Ministry of Housing, Urban Development and Housing (MIVHED) reiterated that operating without these permits constitutes an administrative offense, in addition to endangering the lives and safety of employees and customers, and undermining the system for controlling construction activity in the country.
Closures in Greater Santo Domingo:
During similar operations carried out in September in Greater Santo Domingo, the Dulce Hogar store was authorized to reopen after correcting structural flaws detected by the Directorate of Private Works Supervision.
Likewise, of the eleven stores closed that month in the capital, five have already submitted the required documentation and are currently under evaluation by the Ministry of Housing, Urban Development and Housing (MIVHED), which will issue the necessary permits in the coming days so they can make the corresponding adjustments.
Authorities called on business owners to comply with all construction and operating regulations, reminding them that the objective of these measures is to protect public safety and ensure that commercial spaces operate within
the legal framework.
MIVHED assured that it will continue to supervise shopping centers and buildings throughout the country, applying preventive measures when irregularities are detected that could compromise the safety of people and the integrity of structures.
