Abinader signs Decree to enforce land use and territorial planning law

Santo Domingo.- President Luis Abinader has signed Decree No. 396-25, officially approving the implementing regulations for Law No. 368-22 on Territorial Planning, Land Use, and Human Settlements. The new regulation mandates that municipal governments design and enforce land use plans, requiring all infrastructure projects to align with the soil characteristics of each locality.

Under the new rules, tourism developments must secure a land use permit from the local government and obtain a certificate of no objection from the Ministry of Tourism to proceed. The Ministry of Economy and Finance will be responsible for certifying which municipal districts are eligible to manage their own land use, as outlined in Article 24 of the law.

The announcement was made by the Executive Branch’s Legal Advisor, Antoliano Peralta Romero. The law and its regulations are part of the Abinader administration’s strategy to encourage balanced municipal growth through participatory planning and sustainable land use, aiming to improve quality of life nationwide.

The regulation was drafted by the Vice Ministry of Territorial Planning and Regional Development and underwent public consultation. It was finalized through a collaborative process led by the Legal Advisory Office, with input from the Ministries of the Presidency, Tourism, Housing, and other stakeholders, including municipal associations and private sector representatives.