SANTO DOMINGO.- Collapses, closures of commercial establishments and buildings intervened due to technical vulnerabilities have highlighted the need for a stricter system of supervision and control within the Dominican construction sector.
Cases such as the collapse of the Jet Set entertainment center have reignited the debate about the structural conditions of some buildings and the levels of oversight applied in the country, while other commercial infrastructures have been temporarily closed after detecting flaws that posed risks to users and workers.
Amid this scenario, the Dominican Republic is preparing for the entry into force of the Dominican Republic Construction Code (CDCRD).
The MIVHED, Ministry of Housing, Habitat and Buildings, established through Resolution No. 007-2026 a one-year transition period, after which the new code will be mandatory throughout the national territory, starting on April 10, 2027.
Stricter supervision
The new Building Code proposes a more rigorous technical regulation model for all actors involved in building development, from engineers and architects to builders, supervisors and regulatory entities.
The regulations seek to reduce discretion in the approval processes and strengthen inspection mechanisms during each stage of the construction process, in a context where structural safety has become a public concern.
What does the new Building Code contain?
The document consists of five volumes covering structural design, seismic analysis, construction supervision, soils and foundations, reinforced concrete, steel, wood, plumbing, electrical and mechanical installations, as well as architectural criteria related to ventilation, parking, accessibility and fire protection.
The new framework also incorporates existing technical regulations and adds new components that seek to update construction requirements in the country.
Mandatory application
Article 2 of the resolution establishes that the Construction Code will be mandatory for all building projects, whether temporary or permanent, public or private, including new constructions, extensions, remodeling and rehabilitations.
The provision also applies to all agents involved in the life cycle of a project, including architects, engineers, builders, supervisors, reviewers and promoters, as well as the authorities responsible for monitoring and approving projects.
It also establishes that any building that poses a danger to the safety of people, property or cultural heritage must be adapted to the provisions of the new code.
A year of transition
Article 4 provides for a one-year transition period, starting from the publication of the resolution, during which the current technical regime and the provisions of the new Construction Code will coexist.
During that time, the Processing, Valuation and Licensing Directorate (DTTL) of the Ministry will continue to evaluate, under the previous rules, the files submitted before the resolution came into effect.
Furthermore, applications received during the transition period may be processed under the previous technical regime or in accordance with the new code.
What will happen after April 2027
Article 5 states that, once the transitional period has expired, all applications for building permits must comply with the provisions of the new Building Code.
The resolution also specifies that applicants must expressly indicate under which regime they wish their project to be evaluated when making the deposit at the Single Window for Construction.
However, the institution warns that projects combining technical provisions of the new code with previous regulations within the same work will not be accepted under any circumstances, in order to guarantee coherence and structural safety.
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