Government Republishes Correct Civil Works Permit Procedure Manual in the Landscourant

GREAT BAY--The Government of St. Maarten has officially republished the Civil Works Permit Procedure Manual in the Landscourant, replacing a version that the Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (VROMI) said was previously published in error.

According to the notice included with the publication, the newly issued manual is the correct and current version and supersedes the earlier version.

The manual serves as a comprehensive guide to the procedures for processing permit requests tied to significant “civil works” activities that affect spatial development. These activities can include substantial interventions such as terrain excavation, leveling, road construction, vegetation clearance, and water management modifications, actions that may cause significant and sometimes irreversible impacts on the environment and land use.

VROMI explains that a civil works permit (aanlegvergunning) is required under Article 28a of the National Ordinance on Spatial Development Planning (Landsverordening Ruimtelijke Ontwikkelingsplanning), commonly referred to as the Zoning Ordinance. The manual outlines that Article 28a was abolished in 2012 in anticipation of island-wide zoning plans, however, because zoning plans were not finalized in time, the former obligation was revived. Article 28a was reinstated in April 2021, requiring persons to apply for a civil works permit for activities of a “profound nature.”

The stated purpose of the manual is to ensure that civil works permit requests are evaluated consistently, thoroughly, and in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. It is intended as a reference for stakeholders involved in review and advising, setting out the steps, criteria, and documentation required for submitting, reviewing, and approving permits. VROMI further states that the procedures are aimed at balancing necessary development with the protection of the environment, water resources, and community interests, while emphasizing transparency, accountability, and best practices in spatial planning and environmental stewardship.

The publication also provides a roadmap of the document’s structure, including:

• a legislative and policy overview in Chapter 2, with related material further explained in Appendix 1
• a listing of civil works permit types, definitions, and permit triggers in Chapter 3
• an explanation of the roles and tasks of internal and external stakeholders in Chapter 4
• required information for permit evaluation, including technical checklists, in Chapter 5
• an additional Appendix 2, issued as a separate document, containing workflows and a detailed breakdown of activities per stakeholder in the evaluation process

VROMI noted that the manual was developed within the COastal RESilience and Needs Assessment (CORENA) project, supported through the Caribbean OCTs Resilience, Sustainable Energy and Marine Biodiversity (RESEMBID) initiative, a €40 million European Union financed program implemented by Expertise France. The program supports sustainable human development efforts across 12 Caribbean Overseas Countries and Territories, including St. Maarten.

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