MIVED orders temporary closure of unlicensed warehouses and malls in Greater Santo Domingo

Santo Domingo.-  The Ministry of Housing and Buildings (MIVED), through its Vice Ministry of Standards, Regulations, and Procedures, has ordered the preventive closure of several industrial warehouses and shopping malls in Greater Santo Domingo for operating without construction licenses or final inspection certifications. Among the affected establishments are Suplax, Plaza Hope, Central Depot, Central Point, Ming Sheng, Me Home (Nine Mall), La Rocca, Dulce Hogar, Shopping Center New World, STD Mall, and Yo Me.

MIVED explained that the measure is based on administrative self-protection, allowing authorities to take urgent steps to safeguard public safety, structural integrity, and the right to life. The closures are temporary and strictly preventative, giving owners the opportunity to regularize their operations according to current regulations.

The Ministry cited Law 687-82 and Technical Regulations R-004 and R-021, which require construction permits and final inspection certificates before a building can be occupied or operated. Law 160-21 further empowers MIVED to regulate, supervise, and adopt preventive measures for construction activity nationwide. Operating without the necessary permits or certifications constitutes an administrative offense and poses risks to structural safety, citizens’ lives, and national security.