Request a certificate to use the land and a certificate of no objection (“Certificado de uso de suelo”, “certificado de no objecion”) and receive inspection by the Municipal Council (Departamento de Planeamiento Urbano)
Agency: Municipal Council (Departamento de Planeamiento Urbano)
Following the Doing Business case study assumptions and based on Resolution 5/2004 one needs to request a certificate to use the land and also obtain a certificate of no objection prior to obtaining the construction permit. Moreover, in order to obtain the certificate to use the land an inspection by the Municipal Council is required (the official cost for this inspection is DOP 3000).
The land-use certificate confers the right to build on the plot, but it does not authorize construction. The certificate ensures that the project conforms to zoning regulations.
The certificate of no objection is a certificate which according to your project plans, elevations and sections approves and appoints the urban design parameters.
The request must be accompanied by several documents related to the land, including:
- A copy (simple, unnotarized) of the real property deed for the plot (does not have to be recently obtained)
- A cadastral plan
- A map of the project’s location and a first draft of the project design drawings
Time and cost: 1 day, DOP 3,000
Obtain a certificate to use the land and a certificate of no objection (“certificación de uso de suelo” y “certificación de no objeción” )
Agency: Municipal Council (Departamento de Planeamiento Urbano)
According to Ordenanza No 4 2018, the cost for this procedure is DOP 10 000.
Time and cost: 37 days, DOP 10,000
Obtain a soil test study report
Agency: Private Firm
Although a soil study is not a legal requirement to obtain a building permit, in practice, contractors ask for a soil test to ensure that the foundation of the building is solid. The engineer must understand the suitability of the soil for the proposed construction work. Soil test allows to build a solid foundation and avoid structures to be damaged, collapsed or leaned.
Time and cost: 11 days, DOP 156,508
Obtain a topographical map
Agency: Private Engenieer
While a topographic survey is not a legal requirement to obtain a building permit, in practice, the contractors will need a topographical survey to draw the site plan.
Time and cost: 7 days, DOP 35,000
Request and obtain approval of project design drawings by the Municipal Council
Agency: Municipal Council (Departamento de Planeamiento Urbano del Ayuntamiento de la jurisdicción correspondiente)
The request for approval of the project design drawings must be accompanied by several documents, including the property deed, the cadastral plan, and project design drawings, certified by an architect or engineer registered at the Dominican College of Engineers and Architects (CODIA) by the corresponding Municipal Council. BuildCo must request an inspection upon filing the project drawings. This is a prerequisite for other procedures.
Once the request is approved by the Municipal Council, the Municipality forwards the request to the Ministry of Public Works and Communications. The Ministry then grants a construction license for the project. The license is granted to the project itself and not to BuildCo. During this process, BuildCo must follow up with both agencies to ensure license processing. Construction must commence within 1 year from the date of issuance of the license.
According to Resolution #5 2004 of the National District Office (Ayuntamiento del Distrito Nacional de Santo Domingo) the official cost for the construction of a warehouse is DOP 75.00 per sq. m. For a warehouse of 1300.6 sq. m. the total cost will be DOP 97,545.00.
Time and cost: 21 days, DOP 97,545
Receive pre-registration inspection (preinspeccion) by the Ministry of Public Works and Communications (Departamento de Inspeccion de Edificaciones Privadas)
Agency: Ministry of Public Works and Communications (Departamento de Inspeccion de Edificaciones Privadas)
According to article 86 of the Regulations for the Supervision and General Inspection of Work (R-0004 Reglamento para la Supervision e Inspeccion General de Obras), all projects which have been subject to the review and approval of project design drawing by the Ministry of Public Works and Communications (Oficina de Tramitacion de Planos) must be previously inspected (pre-registration) to verify that the construction has not started.
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Request and obtain construction permit from the Ministry of Public Works and Communications
Agency: Ministry of Public Works and Communications (Ministerio de Obras Publicas y Comunicaciones)
Fees are paid once the license has been approved and the project has been valued by the Ministry of Public Works and Communications (Oficina de Tramitacion de Planos). The formula used by the Ministry of Public Works and Communications to determine the project value (is DOP 16,510.20 per sq. m (1,300.6 sq. m. x DOP 16,510 = DOP 21,473,166.12).
Thus, the applicable administrative fees (based on a project value of 21,473,166.12 DOP ) to obtain the construction permit are as follows:
- Fee for the Municipality, equivalent to 2.5 X 1,000 of the construction cost: DOP 53,682.9
- Fee for the Dominican College of Engineers and Architects (CODIA), equivalent to 2 X 1,000 of the construction cost: DOP 42,946.3
TOTAL: DOP 96,629.2
BuildCo must present a copy of receipts for both payments made to the Ministry of Public Works and Communications in order to obtain the construction permit.
Time and cost: 90 days, DOP 96,629
Receive an inspection before the lintel (zapata) of the project is made
Agency: Ministry of Public Works and Communications (Departamento de Inspeccion de Edificaciones Privadas)
The inspection is carried out by an inspector from the Private Buildings Inspection Department (Departamento de Inspeccion de Edificaciones Privadas) of the Ministry of Public Works and Communications. All required inspections are set out in the Regulations for the Supervision and General Inspection of Work (R-0004 Reglamento para la Supervision e Inspeccion General de Obras). BuildCo must complete an online application form and bring it to the Ministry of Public Works and Communications to schedule the inspection.
Time and cost: 1 day, DOP 232
Receive an inspection before the space between galleries (entrepiso) is completed
Agency: Ministry of Public Works and Communications (Departamento de Inspeccion de Edificaciones Privadas)
BuildCo. receives an inspection before the space between galleries (entrepiso) is completed
Time and cost: 1 day, DOP 232
Receive an inspection before the roof of the project is completed
Agency: Ministry of Public Works and Communications (Departamento de Inspeccion de Edificaciones Privadas)
Once the contruction is in the last stages, BuildCo. receives an inspection before the roof of the project is completed.
Time and cost: 1 day, DOP 232
Request water and sewage connection
Agency: Corporation of Aqueduct and Sewage System of Santo Domingo (CAASD)
After the finalization of the work, BuildCo. requests water and sewage connection.
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Receive on-site inspection for water and sewage connection
Agency: Corporation of Aqueduct and Sewage System of Santo Domingo (CAASD)
Due to the prior request, buildCo. receives an inspection in order to receive the utilities connections.
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Receive water and sewage connection
Agency: Corporation of Aqueduct and Sewage System of Santo Domingo (CAASD)
A contract must be executed with the Corporation of Aqueducts and Sewage System of Santo Domingo.
Time and cost: 45 days, DOP 25,632
Notify the Ministry of Public Works and Communications of building completion
Agency: Ministry of Public Works and Communications (Dirección de Edificación de la Secretaría de Estado de Obras Públicas)
After utilities are connected, BuildCo. notifies to the Ministry of Public Works and Communications (Dirección de Edificación de la Secretaría de Estado de Obras Públicas) the completion of the work.
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Receive final inspection
Agency: Ministry of Public Works and Communications (Departamento de Inspeccion de Edificaciones Privadas)
Once notified of construction completion, the Ministry of Public Works undertakes a final on-site inspection. Usually, the inspectors visit the site in about a week or so. To obtain the final inspection, BuildCo must pay internal taxes of DOP 1,160.00 (five times the tax of DOP 232.00). This inspection verifies if the transit regulations have been fulfilled and examines the roof’s impermeability, the sanitary installations, the electrical installations,the door, floor, and window installations, and security safety (fire).
Time and cost: 5 days, DOP 1,160
