If you plan on
building a home in the Dominican Republic, it's a good idea to have the plans drawn up and an architect on board before you make a land purchase. As mentioned in part one of the Building Your Home in the Dominican Republic series, you want to ensure that your proposed building steps are in keeping with the local regulations, and that has to be done before the title is transferred.
Finding the Right Architect
One of the biggest difficulties in building a home in the Dominican Republic is the language barrier. If you don't speak Spanish, you may need to find a translation service or work through your lawyer, as it will be important to convey your ideas effectively. Other key factors to look for in your architect include:
- Membership with CODIA (Colegio Dominicana de Ingenieros, Arquitectos y Agrimensores). This professional association is what the government of the DR relies on to ensure that buildings are in keeping with local codes and regulations.
- Recommendations from friends, acquaintances, or your Dominican Republic real estate agency. Word of mouth remains the best way to do business in the DR, especially if there is a certain aesthetic or location planned for your home.
- Someone who knows the local terrain. It may be tempting to hire an architect from your home country or who you have worked with in the past. Remember, though, that the Dominican Republic has a unique landscape and weather patterns. You want someone who is familiar with building homes that are equipped to last and be safe through earthquakes, torrential rains, and even hurricanes.
Finding the Right Contractor
In many cases, your architect will serve as your contractor and vice versa. It is up to you whether you want these roles to overlap—people have had success building in the Dominican Republic either way. Once again, you'll want to look for:
Referrals. In an ideal scenario, you will work with a contractor who has considerable experience with others in your property range, and who comes highly recommended. If you do decide to work with someone unknown, be sure that he or she can produce satisfied customers you can talk with first.
A willingness to work with your lawyers. It's best to allow your local lawyer or real estate agency handle the contracts with the builders, since there are many steps and permits required along the way. This is especially important if you will be living in your home country while building is taking place, since you won't be on hand to supervise the process on your own.
Permits and Fees
As is the case with building a physical structure in any country, there are legal requirements that must be fulfilled before you can begin building your new DR home. Although you can have many of these acquired by your lawyer (or the builder or architect), they are ultimately the homeowner's responsibility.
Some of the steps required include:
- Planning permission from the local City Hall, the Public Works Department, the Municipal League, the Tourism Department, and, in some cases, DEFINPRO
- Permission from the Forestry Department for the removal of trees and other growth
- Transportation permit for the removal of any mahogany trees cut down from the land (this is an environmental protection requirement)
Additional steps may be required, depending on where you build and the scope of your home. These should be addressed by your architect and/or your lawyer as you go through the process of getting the appropriate papers filled out and the building process gets underway.