Dominican Republic land use and territorial planning

The Dominican Republic is undergoing significant shifts in land use regulation and municipal authority. A Constitutional Court ruling, TC/1373/25, redefined municipal management by stripping city councils of the authority to grant individual land use permits. The court determined that such responsibility rests solely with the mayor’s office through its Urban Planning Office, overturning previous interpretations that allowed councils to approve these authorizations.

Following this judicial shift, the Executive Branch has formally submitted the National Territorial Planning (PNOT) bill to the Senate. Presented by Minister José Ignacio Paliza to Senate President Ricardo de los Santos, the legislative proposal aims to regulate land use, manage urban and rural growth, and protect natural resources including wetlands, coastal zones, and water sources. The plan seeks to complement Law 368-22 by incorporating criteria for environmental sustainability, risk management, and climate change adaptation to prevent disorganized urban expansion.

Senate President Ricardo de los Santos announced that the project will be made available for public consultation on the Senate’s website to encourage citizen input. This initiative follows five years of regional consultation and is intended to reduce land-use conflicts while ensuring organized development across all municipalities.