2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART VIII - Public Planning II (§§ 9011 — 9047) › Chapter 230 - Puerto Rico Permit Process Reform Act (§§ 9011 — 9028i) › Subchapter VIII - Evaluation, Granting or Denial of Final Determinations or Permits (§§ 9018 — 9018o) › § 9018n - Conditional use permit to individuals or small- and medium-sized businesses for the establishment, expansion, and operation of certain businesses or uses compatible with the qualification (zoning) of the site

The Permit Management Office (OGPe), Autonomous Municipalities with I to V granted Hierarchy, and authorized professionals may issue conditional use permits to individuals or small- and medium-sized businesses for the establishment of a new business or to expand an existing business.
All businesses and individuals with fifty (50) employees or less, that, in accordance with this chapter, meet SMBs parameters shall be deemed to be individuals, micro, small-, and medium-sized businesses and may qualify to obtain such permit. This process shall allow those individuals or entities that are unable to immediately meet any of the requirements provided in this chapter for the issuance of a use permit for their business, to initiate new business activities without delays.
Provided, further, That every individual who files on his/her behalf or on behalf of a corporation of individuals an application to obtain a use permit, shall receive a conditional use permit that shall enable him/her to begin operations immediately and be granted a six (6)-month period after the issue thereof to meet any requirement that he/she was unable to meet at the time of filing the application. In addition to architects or professional engineers, authorized inspectors may certify to OGPe that fire prevention and environmental health requirements have been met for all uses. Said certifications shall be filed with OGPe at the time of applying for a conditional use permit, except for retail sales stores, business offices, professional offices, medical offices, retail stores, barbershops, beauty salons, and small sales and service shops that do not involve the preparation and/or sale of food, may submit the fire prevention and environmental health certifications within a term of one hundred eighty (180) days after the issue of said conditional, immediate, or temporary use permit. Said use permit shall be issued within one (1) business day.
If the individual or juridical entity fails to meet such requirements within the six (6)-month period, such permit shall be revoked. Furthermore, the Permit Management Office and Autonomous Municipalities with I to V granted Hierarchy are hereby authorized to order the closing of the business in cases involving an individual’s willful contempt or disregard for final orders issued by the Permit Management Office and Autonomous Municipalities with I to V granted Hierarchy, the suspension of the electric power and/or water services, and the imposition of a fine that shall not exceed one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500.00); and any individual or entity that continues operating without the appropriate permit shall be punished by an additional one-hundred dollars ($100) fine daily.
The fact that an individual or entity applying for a permit has an outstanding debt with any agency of the Commonwealth shall not be grounds for refusing to issue immediate, temporary, or conditional use permits. In such cases, the individual shall be required to satisfy the debt in question or show proof of having availed him/herself of a payment plan, and to meet any other requirement under this chapter during the extension period.
History —Dec. 1, 2009, No. 161, added as § 8.15 on June 11, 2014, No. 62, § 5.