POND ISLAND–All repairs to existing homes and commercial properties will not require a new building permit as long as construction sticks to guidelines in the original permit.
The Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI said on Monday that home or property owners who plan to reconstruct, repair or rebuild their property differently from the original permitted structure must submit a building permit request.
Any extensions, add-ons or changes to a building that VROMI did not previously approve will require a permit. For example, a house issued a permit for a zinc roof will require a request for change to a concrete roof. Drawings will be checked for safety and approved by the Ministry “within a short period of time.”
Permit forms are available from the Inspection and Permits Department, housed in the new Government Building on Pond Island, Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 4:00pm.
Building or making changes to a building without an approved building permit is in violation of Article 7 of the Building Ordinance. A building stop is in effect for all construction activities without a valid building permit, the Ministry said.
VROMI will assess all hurricane-damaged structures. Specialised inspectors will list uninhabitable structures and those deemed damaged beyond repair.
VROMI issued this “correction” to a statement it released on September 27 that placed a permit requirement on all repairs and rebuilding following Hurricane Irma.
The original blanket regulation for all buildings drew criticism from United People’s (UP) party leader Member of Parliament (MP) Theo Heyliger after it was made public.
His reaction was: “What does this Government want the already stressed, frustrated and roofless people to do – embrace the rain pouring into their homes? Learn to enjoy many romantic nights under the stars from inside what’s left of their homes?”
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/69834-rebuilding-must-follow-issued-building-permit
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