reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
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 IX - Applicable General Provisions Necessary for Issuing Final Determinations or Permits (§§ 9019 — 9019k) › § 9019 - Land subdivisions

As of the date of effectiveness of the applicable land subdivision regulations drafted by the Management Office for the approval of the Planning Board under the provisions of this chapter, any land subdivision or the registration or approval of any land subdivision shall be conducted only when and to the extent that such land subdivision complies with the recommendations arising from the Integrated Development Plan, the Land Use Plans, the Four-Year Investment Program, and such others as may be implemented to that effect. No Property Registrar shall accept with intent to register:
(a) Any land subdivision plan that has not received the final approval of the Permit Management Office, the Planning Board or the autonomous municipality, as may apply; or
(b) any transfer, agreement to transfer any plot of land, or any interest therein, within a land subdivision, unless a final or preliminary plan approved by the Permit Management Office has been registered.
The execution of any public deed or private agreement for land subdivision shall be held to be invalid and ineffectual if the said land subdivision has not been previously submitted for the consideration of the Permit Management Office and the said Office has not approved the same, except in those cases in which the applicable regulations so allow. All final land subdivision plans shall include the description of the plots of land constituted by the land subdivision, and a description of the remainder. All final land subdivision plans approved under the provisions of this chapter and any applicable regulation shall be recorded into the Land Subdivision Plan Register of the Property Registry at the district or districts where the plots of land are located, pursuant to the regulations approved by the Secretary of Justice to that effect.
Leasing a portion of a parcel for the sole purpose of building, installing, and operating a telecommunications tower under §§ 321 et seq. of Title 27, or an advertisement and/or bill board under §§ 51 et seq. of Title 9, shall not be deemed to be a land subdivision for the purposes of this chapter. The Permit Management Office shall give notice to the Municipal Revenues Collection Center of the approval of any land subdivision and transmit its respective plan, so that the said Center may update its registries and conduct any legal procedures or transactions as may correspond under the law. Any land subdivision approval and its respective plan shall be entered by the pertinent entity in charge of the corresponding georeferencing information system.
History —Dec. 1, 2009, No. 161, § 9.1.
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 IX - Applicable General Provisions Necessary for Issuing Final Determinations or Permits (§§ 9019 — 9019k) › § 9019a - Urban developments under waiver

The Permit Management Office shall adopt, as part of the Joint Regulation, provisions to regulate the evaluation and granting of permits for urban developments under waiver, as these are defined in § 9011 of this title, and to evaluate and grant the authorizations for such urban developments. When adopting such regulatory provisions and considering land subdivisions for urban developments under waiver, the Management Office shall abide by the Puerto Rico Integrated Development Plan, the Four-Year Investment Program, and the Land Use Plans without impairment to the provisions in competency delegation and hierarchy transfer agreements.
History —Dec. 1, 2009, No. 161, § 9.2.
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 IX - Applicable General Provisions Necessary for Issuing Final Determinations or Permits (§§ 9019 — 9019k) › § 9019b - Special cases

When factors such as public health and safety, law enforcement, public improvements, environmental or archeological conditions render the approval of a ministerial project undesirable, the Adjudicatory Board and the autonomous municipalities with I to V granted hierarchy may, as the case may be, in protecting public interest and taking into account such factors and the recommendations of any government entity, deny the authorization for such project. The Adjudicatory Board and the autonomous municipalities with I to V granted hierarchy, as the case may be, may deny such application insofar as unfavorable conditions of the project exist even if the project in question is comprised within those allowed for the area pursuant to the Planning Regulations in effect. In exercising such power, the Adjudicatory Board and the autonomous municipalities with I to V granted hierarchy, as the case may be, shall take the necessary steps so as to prevent the same from being used for the purpose of hindering the issue of the pertinent permit or disregarding the regulatory provisions in effect, in cases where there are no truly special circumstances.
History —Dec. 1, 2009, No. 161, § 9.3.
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 IX - Applicable General Provisions Necessary for Issuing Final Determinations or Permits (§§ 9019 — 9019k) › § 9019c - Approval of safe plans

The Permit Management Office and the autonomous municipalities with I to V granted hierarchy, as the case may be, shall pre-approve construction plans, which shall be known as “safe plans”. Those applicants who use “safe plans” shall have a pre-approval by the Permit Management Office, only for constructability purposes while the corresponding permit for the construction of the work is processed. The Permit Management Office and the autonomous municipalities with I to V granted hierarchy shall keep a Safe Plans Registry, which shall be available to the public. The Permit Management Office and the autonomous municipalities with I to V granted hierarchy shall establish through regulation the procedure whereby government entities or persons may submit plans to be pre-approved as safe plans for the consideration of the Permit Management Office or the autonomous municipalities with I to V granted hierarchy, as the case may be. Any government agency, public corporation or instrumentality of the Government of Puerto Rico, which by provisions of law, must furnish construction plans free of charge to certain persons, shall submit such plans before the Management Office for the approval thereof as safe plans.
History —Dec. 1, 2009, No. 161, § 9.4.
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 IX - Applicable General Provisions Necessary for Issuing Final Determinations or Permits (§§ 9019 — 9019k) › § 9019d - Estimated cost

The Permit Management Office shall establish, through resolution or administrative order, the publication or standard for the construction industry which shall be used for computing the estimated cost of works. Such publication or guideline shall be reviewed periodically, every five (5) years, in order to update and include new construction work modalities in the same.
History —Dec. 1, 2009, No. 161, § 9.5.
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 IX - Applicable General Provisions Necessary for Issuing Final Determinations or Permits (§§ 9019 — 9019k) › § 9019e - Nature of use permits

For the purposes of this chapter, use permits are “in rem” in nature. In no case shall the issuance of a new use permit shall be required, provided that the authorized, permitted or legal non-conforming use continues to be the same and is not interrupted for more than two (2) years. Housing use permits shall not have an expiration date. As to non-residential uses, in the event there is a change in the name, owner or successor, the Management Office shall transfer, not later than the third work day after the corresponding application to transfer the use permit is submitted, to the new owner or successor, provided that the authorized use for the property or establishment continues to be the same and the sanitary license and fire prevention inspection certificate are in effect. The Management Office shall notify the agencies and/or municipalities concerned on the transfer of the authorizations described above for them to take any actions that may proceed. The authorizations that are transferred pursuant to this section shall have the same term and date of effectiveness as the original, whenever applies.
No agency, municipality or instrumentality of the Government of Puerto Rico may establish requirements or deny services in contravention with the provisions of this section and this chapter. Any building used for non-residential purposes shall place conspicuously the use permit, which shall be printed an authorized professional, the autonomous municipality with I to V granted hierarchy or the Management Office in the specific format established through regulations by the Management Office. The Management Office shall issue temporary use permits to conduct a short-term activity, which shall be established through regulations. The effectiveness of the temporary use permit may not exceed a non-extendable period of six (6) months and the granting thereof shall not constitute the approval of a use variance. The “provisional permit” concept is neither allowed nor contemplated in this chapter, and is contrary to the planning concepts and purposes, for which reason no provisional permits shall be issued. The issuance of a provisional permit shall entail the imposition of a fine, as provided in § 9027 of this title.
History —Dec. 1, 2009, No. 161, § 9.6.
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 IX - Applicable General Provisions Necessary for Issuing Final Determinations or Permits (§§ 9019 — 9019k) › § 9019f - Transfer of building permits

In the event there is a change in the name of an entity or owner of a property, the Permit Management Office shall transfer, not later than the third work day after the corresponding application is submitted to transfer to the new owner or entity any permits issued by the Management Office or the autonomous municipality with I to V granted hierarchy or an authorized professional pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, to carry out a work or activity authorized to the entity or owner of the property. In order to carry out this transfer, there shall suffice to submit the forms required and the payment of the corresponding fees to the Permit Management Office, as established by regulations. The Permit Management Office shall notify the concerned agencies and/or municipalities on the transfer of the authorizations described above for them to take any actions that may proceed under the law.
History —Dec. 1, 2009, No. 161, § 9.7.
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 IX - Applicable General Provisions Necessary for Issuing Final Determinations or Permits (§§ 9019 — 9019k) › § 9019g - Notice to neighbors

Except for ministerial permits which do not entail any kind of variance, the applicant shall notify the submittal of the permit application to adjoining neighbors of the property where the action is proposed and the term within which the applicant shall present evidence to the Permit Management Office of having given such notice, which shall be established through regulations. Such notice shall be made by mail with return receipt requested and/or by any other mechanism to be determined by regulation in those cases where the applicant does not have access to the mailing address of the adjoining neighbor.
History —Dec. 1, 2009, No. 161, § 9.8.
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 IX - Applicable General Provisions Necessary for Issuing Final Determinations or Permits (§§ 9019 — 9019k) › § 9019h - Application submittal or activity commencement sign

Once an application is submitted to the Permit Management Office, the autonomous municipality with I to V granted hierarchy or the authorized professional, the owner of the work shall place a sign in the main entrance of the property where the work is to be performed. Said sign shall be installed within two (2) days after having submitted the permit application by electronic means or alternate means as determined by the Management Office by regulations, as provided in § 9018b of this title. Ministerial use permit applications and issuance that do not entail any kind of variance shall be excluded from this requirement.
The owner of the work shall place a sign on the property in which the authorized activity is proposed at least five (5) days before the commencement thereof and such sign shall remain in said place until the authorized activity is concluded. If this requirement is not complied with, the construction, reconstruction, alteration, demolition or transfer of a building in Puerto Rico may not be performed.
Once the required sign is placed, the owner of the property shall attest by means of a sworn statement to the fact that such sign was placed pursuant to the provisions of this section and present such evidence within three (3) days after the sign has been placed.
The requirements of the sign and the information it shall bear shall be established through the regulation adopted by the Permit Management Office.
History —Dec. 1, 2009, No. 161, § 9.9.
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 IX - Applicable General Provisions Necessary for Issuing Final Determinations or Permits (§§ 9019 — 9019k) › § 9019i - Accuracy of permits

The accuracy and legality of the final determinations and permits issued by the Permit Management Office, the autonomous municipalities with I to V granted hierarchy and the authorized professionals shall be presumed. However, if there is fraud, deceit, deception, extortion, bribery or the commission of any crime in granting or denying a final determination or permit, or in such cases in which the structure poses a risk to the health or safety or to environmental and/or archeological conditions, the final determination so issued and the permit granted by the Permit Management Office, the autonomous municipality with I to V granted hierarchy or the authorized professional may only be revoked by the court. The structure may be modified, kept, or demolished only after a competent court so determines by following the judicial procedure established in Subchapter XIV of this chapter, while complying with the due process of law.
Furthermore, it is hereby provided that under no circumstances shall a final determination be suspended, without a judicial authorization or mandate issued by a competent court or the corresponding forum, in strict compliance with the due process of law. The provisions of this section shall not set a precedent to be claimed by third parties that have no rights over the property for which the permit is issued. Being it understood that, subject to the provisions of this chapter, a final determination shall be deemed to be a final and binding permit and may not be challenged once the applicant has met all the requirements established in the final determination notice and the twenty (20)-day term for a party adversely affected by such notice to file a recourse for review or administrative review procedure and the thirty (30)-day term to request judicial review have elapsed. In the particular case of site consultation, a final determination shall not be deemed to be a permit. However, any party adversely affected by a final determination, including site consultation, may request review under the provisions of Subchapter XII of this chapter.
Likewise, the accuracy and legality of such permits shall be defended by the government agencies concerned against attacks from third parties. If there is fraud, deceit, deception, extortion, bribery or the commission of any crime in granting a permit, or in such cases in which the structure poses a risk to health or safety, environmental and/or archeological conditions, and subject to the provisions of this chapter, the permit granted by the Permit Management Office, the autonomous municipality with I to V granted hierarchy or an authorized professional may be revoked by judicial means and the work may be modified, preserved or demolished according to the ruling of the judge.
History —Dec. 1, 2009, No. 161, § 9.10.
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 IX - Applicable General Provisions Necessary for Issuing Final Determinations or Permits (§§ 9019 — 9019k) › § 9019j - Exempted construction works

The Joint Regulations shall establish those repairs and constructions that shall be deemed exempted construction works that may be carried out without the need of requesting a building permit. However, a building permit shall be required when the construction works are to be performed in Historic and Old Sites and Zones so declared by the Planning Board, the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture, and the Legislature or in other special areas as established by regulations or resolution. All these, without curtailing the powers of the autonomous municipalities with I to V granted hierarchy.
History —Dec. 1, 2009, No. 161, § 9.11.
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 IX - Applicable General Provisions Necessary for Issuing Final Determinations or Permits (§§ 9019 — 9019k) › § 9019k - Utility permits and service

As of the effective date of this act:
(a) Any use, construction, reconstruction, alteration, demolition, transfer of buildings in Puerto Rico, installation of facilities, subdivision, development, urbanization of lands, shall be previously approved and authorized by the Permit Management Office, the autonomous municipality with I to V granted hierarchy or an authorized professional, as applicable, in compliance with the applicable legal provisions.
(b) Use permits shall not be issued if the proposed use does not comply with the applicable laws and regulations, except for use permits with variance.
(c) The service of utilities by public officials, public corporations, government bodies or private entities, including the issuance of municipal or state permits and licenses, for the construction, structural alteration, extension, transfer or use of buildings, installation of facilities or demolition, requires the presentation by the interested party of a permit for using or building, remodeling, altering the structure, extending, installing facilities, transferring, using or demolishing a building, as applicable, issued by the Permit Management Office, an authorized professional or an autonomous municipality with I to V granted hierarchy, as applicable. A request for a service other than that authorized for the property shall be processed by public officials, public corporations, government bodies or private entities when the subscriber presents the use permit authorizing the change in use. If any of these public corporations should learn that a utility is being used for a purpose other than originally authorized, such agency shall change the rate of the service rendered and simultaneously notify the Office of the Chief Permit Inspector for it to carry out the corresponding investigation; provided that a change in rate shall not be construed as to render a change in use legal.
History —Dec. 1, 2009, No. 161, § 9.12.
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 X - Office of the Chief Permit Inspector (§§ 9020 — 9020t) › § 9020 - Creation

The Office of the Chief Permit Inspector is hereby created as an independent body within the Executive Branch with the oversight powers vested upon it by this chapter and the regulations adopted thereunder.
History —Dec. 1, 2009, No. 161, § 10.1.
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 X - Office of the Chief Permit Inspector (§§ 9020 — 9020t) › § 9020a - Direction and supervision

The Office of the Chief Permit Inspector shall be directed by the Chief Permit Inspector, who shall be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Legislature, for a term of ten (10) years to be counted as of his/her appointment. The person appointed to hold office as Chief Permit Inspector shall be renowned for his/her capability, knowledge, and experience in the planning and permit processing fields for not less than ten (10) years. Furthermore, he/she must have been residing in Puerto Rico for at least five (5) years immediately preceding the date of his/her appointment. The Governor may declare the office of Chief Permit Inspector vacant due to a mental or physical disability that precludes the appointee from carrying out the duties of the office, to negligence in carrying out his/her duties or omission in complying with his/her duties, or to his/her conviction for any kind of offense. When the office of Chief Permit Inspector is permanently vacant, before the appointment term expires, a successor shall be appointed for the remainder of the appointment term of his/her predecessor. The compensation of the office of Chief Permit Inspector shall be fixed by the Governor taking into account the compensation established for the Secretaries of the Departments of the Executive Branch.
History —Dec. 1, 2009, No. 161, § 10.2.
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 X - Office of the Chief Permit Inspector (§§ 9020 — 9020t) › § 9020c - Requisite operating divisions or components

The organizational structure of the Office of the Chief Permit Inspector shall have, at least, the following operating divisions or components:
(a) An office of the Clerk;
(b) compliance and oversight;
(c) complaints and fines;
(d) final determination audit, and
(e) authorized professional regulation.
History —Dec. 1, 2009, No. 161, § 10.4.
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 X - Office of the Chief Permit Inspector (§§ 9020 — 9020t) › § 9020d - Authorized Professional and Authorized Inspector Registry and Permit Registry

The Chief Permit Inspector shall establish the Authorized Professional and Authorized Inspector Registry and the Permit Registry in compliance with any applicable law or regulation.
History —Dec. 1, 2009, No. 161, § 10.5.
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 X - Office of the Chief Permit Inspector (§§ 9020 — 9020t) › § 9020f - Final determination audits

The Chief Permit Inspector shall audit the final determinations and permits issued by authorized professionals and the Permit Management Office within a period not greater than three (3) months to be counted as of the date of notice of such final determinations and permits. During the first three (3) years of operations of the Permit Management Office, to be counted as of the date of effectiveness of this act, the Chief Permit Inspector shall audit at least fifty percent (50%) of the final determinations and permits issued by authorized professionals, twenty percent (20%) of the final determinations and permits issued by the Management Office, and ten percent (10%) of the certifications issued by authorized inspectors pursuant to the provisions of this chapter and the regulations adopted thereunder. Once the three (3) year term concludes, the Chief Permit Inspector shall annually audit at least ten percent (10%) of the permits and final determinations issued by the Management Office, at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the permits and final determinations issued by authorized professionals, and five percent (5%) of the certifications issued by authorized inspectors. The Chief Permit Inspector shall determine through regulations a method for the selection of final determinations and permits, which shall be at random, to be object of such audit, and the grounds for such audit.
Except as provided in § 9019i of this title, based on the results of the audit required in this section, the Inspector may impose fines or initiate any procedure available under this chapter to require the stay, legalization, repair or correction of the construction works or any final determination. The Chief Permit Inspector shall give priority to the audit of those cases in which he/she shall appear pursuant to the provisions of § 9020b of this title, and may not carry out any other subsequent audit to a final determination related to such cases, except to verify the consistency of the final determination with the permit subsequently issued, as applicable.
History —Dec. 1, 2009, No. 161, § 10.7.
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 X - Office of the Chief Permit Inspector (§§ 9020 — 9020t) › § 9020g - Compliance oversight

The Chief Permit Inspector shall oversee compliance by the Management Office, authorized professionals and authorized inspectors with all the provisions of this chapter relative to any permit issued thereunder and any applicable laws and regulations. To such purposes, he/she shall adjudicate complaints filed motu proprio as a result of his/her audit or by petition of a party. In addition, he/she shall impose fines, as established by regulations, while ensuring that under no circumstance shall said fines or complaints be used to make collateral attacks to such final determinations and permits which should have been filed in a timely manner, pursuant to all other provisions of this chapter. The provisions of § 9019i of this title shall not hinder any administrative, civil or criminal action against authorized professionals, authorized inspectors or any person under the provisions of this chapter and its regulations or §§ 42a—42i of this title, and the regulations adopted thereunder.
History —Dec. 1, 2009, No. 161, § 10.8.
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 X - Office of the Chief Permit Inspector (§§ 9020 — 9020t) › § 9020h - Authorization to resort to special judicial recourses

Subject to the provisions of § 9019i of this title and Subchapter XIV of this chapter, the Office of the Chief Permit Inspector is hereby expressly authorized to resort, represented by its own counsels or by private counsel hired to such purposes, to the proper judicial recourse to hinder, prohibit, void, remove, or demolish any construction work, project or structure built, used or maintained in violation of this chapter or any of the laws or regulations that regulate the construction and use of buildings and properties in Puerto Rico, through judicial means, as provided in this chapter. Likewise, the Office of the Chief Permit Inspector is hereby authorized to resort to judicial recourses to prevent, limit, and prohibit any unlawful obstacle, intrusion or hindrance of the construction works authorized in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
Furthermore, in order for the necessary preventive or control measures to be taken so as to achieve the purposes of this chapter, including, without being limited to, the revocation of final determinations, the regulations adopted under the same, Planning Regulations, and any other applicable law or regulations. In the event that the violation committed or error made is rectifiable, the Chief Permit Inspector shall seek such rectification as part of the compliance action taken prior to ordering the revocation.
History —Dec. 1, 2009, No. 161, § 10.9.
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 X - Office of the Chief Permit Inspector (§§ 9020 — 9020t) › § 9020i - Immediate closing order

The Chief Permit Inspector shall be empowered to order the immediate closing of a commercial establishment which violates any law or regulation enforced by the Permit Management Office. The Chief Permit Inspector shall determine, through regulations, the procedure to be followed to order the summary closing established herein, as well as the cases in which such summary proceeding shall apply. An immediate closing order issued by the Chief Permit Inspector to a commercial establishment through the procedure established in the Joint Regulation shall be reviewable before the Court of First Instance.
The Office of the Chief Permit Inspector is hereby granted jurisdiction to employ this procedure in autonomous municipalities with permit offices or equivalent offices, pursuant to §§ 4001 et seq. of Title 21, known as the “Autonomous Municipalities Act of Puerto Rico”, when these so request. The express delegation of functions is hereby authorized in order to achieve the purposes of this section onto the official designated by the Chief Permit Inspector. Any person who violates a closing order issued by the Office of the Chief Permit Inspector under the provisions of this section shall be subject to the administrative fines and penalties set forth in Subchapters XIV and XVII, respectively. Any action under this section shall neither impede nor hinder any other administrative or judicial action against the same persons or property in question.
History —Dec. 1, 2009, No. 161, § 10.10.
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 X - Office of the Chief Permit Inspector (§§ 9020 — 9020t) › § 9020j - Inspection

The Office of the Chief Permit Inspector, represented by its duly identified members, advisors, contractors, agents or employees, may enter, access, and examine any property, including but not limited to establishments, sites, equipment, facilities located therein, and documents of any person, entity, firm, agency, business, government corporation or instrumentality under its jurisdiction, in order to inspect or ascertain compliance with applicable laws and regulations. If the owners or holders or their representatives, or officials in charge refuse to allow the entry or examination, the representative of the Office of the Chief Permit Inspector shall make a sworn statement before any judge of the Court of First Instance stating the intention of the Office of the Chief Permit Inspector and requesting an authorization to enter the property.
If the judge deems it pertinent after reviewing the evidence, he/she shall issue an order authorizing any representative of the Office of the Chief Permit Inspector to enter the property described in the sworn statement and directing that the original documents be filed with the Clerk of the Court and such documents shall be deemed to be public. The representative of the Office of the Chief Permit Inspector shall furnish a copy of the sworn statement and the court order to the persons in charge of the property, if any.
History —Dec. 1, 2009, No. 161, § 10.11.
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 X - Office of the Chief Permit Inspector (§§ 9020 — 9020t) › § 9020k - Procedure for suspension of utility services

The Office of the Chief Permit Inspector is hereby authorized to issue an order to the corresponding public utility service agencies to require the suspension of their services to any property or structure which violates the provisions of this chapter or of any regulations or laws which regulate construction and use of buildings and properties in Puerto Rico within a term and through the mechanisms established by regulations. The order of the Office of the Chief Permit Inspector shall be reviewable by the Court of First Instance through the procedure set forth in the Joint Regulation. The public corporation, government body or private entity engaged in rendering utility services shall reconnect the suspended service after such party shows, by means of a written communication issued by the Office of the Chief Permit Inspector, that it has stopped the unauthorized use or has reverted to the use for which the permit was intended or has legalized the use of the property, building or structure. The Management Office shall give the highest priority to the evaluation and processing of applications intended in obtaining the necessary certification for having reconnected the above mentioned utility services, which certification shall be issued in or before two (2) days.
History —Dec. 1, 2009, No. 161, § 10.12.
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 X - Office of the Chief Permit Inspector (§§ 9020 — 9020t) › § 9020l - Summonses

In compliance with the duties vested upon him/her by this chapter, the Chief Permit Inspector shall issue summonses to require the appearance of witnesses, take depositions, and furnish any kind of documentary evidence, except for trade secrets. Furthermore, the Chief Permit Inspector may take oaths. The Chief Permit Inspector may resort to any Part of the Court of First Instance and request the Court to order thorough and specific compliance with the summonses. The Court of First Instance shall give priority to considering and deciding upon such petition and have the authority to issue orders making compulsory the appearance of witnesses or the production of any data or information previously required by the Chief Permit Inspector. The Court of First Instance shall be empowered to hold a person in contempt for failure to comply with such orders. Any person may be prosecuted and convicted for perjury committed when giving testimony before the Chief Permit Inspector.
History —Dec. 1, 2009, No. 161, § 10.13.
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 X - Office of the Chief Permit Inspector (§§ 9020 — 9020t) › § 9020m - Collection of charges, services, and fees

The Chief Permit Inspector shall fix and collect, by regulation, charges for: (a) evaluation of applications for authorized professional permit issuance or renewal; (b) processing, referral or investigation of complaints by request of a party; (c) copies of publications and any other document public in nature required; and (d) any other processing or service rendered by request of the public in compliance with the provisions of this chapter. However, the Chief Permit Inspector or the person onto whom he/she delegates such authority shall furnish copies free of charge to the Office of the Governor, the Department of State, the Legislature, and in his/her discretion, to persons or entities that meet such indigence requirements as established by regulation.
History —Dec. 1, 2009, No. 161, § 10.14.
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 X - Office of the Chief Permit Inspector (§§ 9020 — 9020t) › § 9020n - Agreements and compensations

The Office of the Chief Permit Inspector may execute agreements with any government body of the Government of Puerto Rico, its municipalities, public corporations, and the federal government, for the purpose of obtaining and rendering professional services or of any other kind and of obtaining or providing facilities to achieve the purposes of this chapter. Said agreements shall specify the services and facilities to be obtained or provided and any reimbursement or payment for such services or facilities.
History —Dec. 1, 2009, No. 161, § 10.15.
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 X - Office of the Chief Permit Inspector (§§ 9020 — 9020t) › § 9020o - Main office and additional offices

The Main Office of the Chief Permit Inspector shall be located in San Juan. If the Chief Permit Inspector deems it necessary to discharge his/her duties and functions under this chapter, he/she shall use, in coordination with the Executive Director of the Permit Management Office, work spaces in the regional offices of the Permit Management Office.
History —Dec. 1, 2009, No. 161, § 10.16.
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 X - Office of the Chief Permit Inspector (§§ 9020 — 9020t) › § 9020p - Special Fund for the Office of the Chief Permit Inspector

Except as provided in § 9024c of this title, all charges, fees, administrative or civil fines, penalties or payments received by the Office of the Chief Permit Inspector, as established in this chapter, shall be covered into the Special Fund created to such ends by the Secretary of the Department of the Treasury for the purpose of defraying regular operating expenses of the Office of the Chief Permit Inspector.
History —Dec. 1, 2009, No. 161, § 10.17.
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 X - Office of the Chief Permit Inspector (§§ 9020 — 9020t) › § 9020q - Budget

The funds necessary to comply with the purposes of this chapter for the current fiscal year and subsequent fiscal years shall be annually consigned in the General Expenses Budget Act of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Any moneys received by the Office of the Chief Permit Inspector in discharging its task of implementing the provisions of this chapter from sources specified herein and from any other sources, shall be covered into a Special Fund to be created by the Secretary of the Department of the Treasury in favor of the Office of the Chief Permit Inspector.
History —Dec. 1, 2009, No. 161, § 10.18.
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 X - Office of the Chief Permit Inspector (§§ 9020 — 9020t) › § 9020r - Procurement

The Office of the Chief Permit Inspector shall be exempted from the application of the provisions of §§ 931 et seq. of Title 3, known as the “General Services Administration Act”. In compliance with the provisions of this chapter, the Office of the Chief Permit Inspector shall establish by regulation to such effects, its own system to procure supplies and ancillary services systems, within norms that assure sound fiscal, economy and efficiency.
History —Dec. 1, 2009, No. 161, § 10.19.
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 X - Office of the Chief Permit Inspector (§§ 9020 — 9020t) › § 9020s - Research or investigations

The Office of the Chief Permit Inspector may carry out all kinds of research or investigations on matters affecting the same, and to such purposes, it may require any necessary, pertinent, and essential information to achieve such purposes and approve any necessary and reasonable rules and regulations.
History —Dec. 1, 2009, No. 161, § 10.20.
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 X - Office of the Chief Permit Inspector (§§ 9020 — 9020t) › § 9020t - Annual report

The Chief Permit Inspector shall draft and submit an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature on the operations, addressed claims, and fiscal situation of the Office of the Chief Permit Inspector, together with any recommendations that he/she may deem necessary for the proper operation of the Office. After submitting the first report, the Chief Permit Inspector shall include at the end of his/her annual reports, a summary of the recommendations previously made and a description of the actions taken with respect to such recommendations.
History —Dec. 1, 2009, No. 161, § 10.21.
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 XI - Land Use and Permit Reviewing Board (§§ 9021 — 9021l) › § 9021 - Creation of the Land Use and Permit Reviewing Board

The Land Use and Permit Reviewing Board is hereby created as an independent, collegiate, and specialized body. Such body shall establish any organizational structure as necessary for the proper operation thereof, including sharing its administrative resources or components with other agencies. The Reviewing Board shall be entrusted with reviewing the final determinations issued by the Adjudicatory Board, the Permit Management Office, an authorized professional, and Autonomous Municipalities with I to V granted hierarchy.
History —Dec. 1, 2009, No. 161, § 11.1; July 20, 2012, No. 142, § 1.
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 XI - Land Use and Permit Reviewing Board (§§ 9021 — 9021l) › § 9021b - Removal and vacancies

The Governor shall declare vacant the office of any member of the Reviewing Board due to mental or physical disability that prevents him/her to carry out the duties of the office, gross negligence in carrying out his/her functions, omission in the performance of his/her duties, or if convicted of a felony or of an offense involving moral turpitude, any of the preceding two (2). Associate and alternate members shall hold their office within the Reviewing Board until they are replaced, except when he/she who is mentally disabled or incurs gross negligence, omission in the performance of his/her duties or is convicted by a competent court.
Immediately after a vacancy arises in the office of the Chair of the Reviewing Board, the Governor shall appoint an Acting Chair from among the alternate members already confirmed to hold the office of Chair. Whenever a permanent vacancy arises in the office of a member of the Reviewing Board before the expiration date of his/her appointment, his/her successor shall be appointed to complete the term of the predecessor.
History —Dec. 1, 2009, No. 161, § 11.3.
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 XI - Land Use and Permit Reviewing Board (§§ 9021 — 9021l) › § 9021d - Quorum

The majority of the members of the Reviewing Board shall constitute a quorum to hold sessions and to make decisions. All Reviewing Board agreements shall be adopted by a majority vote. The votes cast by members shall only indicate their position in favor or against the decision, but they shall not cast explanatory votes. The vote of each member, whether in favor or against, shall be recorded into the minute books of the Reviewing Board, which shall constitute public documents.
History —Dec. 1, 2009, No. 161, § 11.5.
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 XI - Land Use and Permit Reviewing Board (§§ 9021 — 9021l) › § 9021e - Sessions and panels

If the number of members of the Reviewing Board increases, as provided in § 9021a of this title, it shall convene in panels constituted by three (3) members to adjudicate matters under its consideration. The Reviewing Board shall convene in whole when called by the Chair to deal with the matters established in its bylaws.
History —Dec. 1, 2009, No. 161, § 11.6.
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 XI - Land Use and Permit Reviewing Board (§§ 9021 — 9021l) › § 9021f - Service and other charges and fees

The Reviewing Board shall fix and collect, through its bylaws, submittal or other charges or fees on account of: (a) presentation of resources, as applicable; (b) copies of any document public in nature as required; and (c) any other transaction or service rendered by request of the public in compliance with the provisions of this chapter. However, the Reviewing Board or the person onto whom such authority is delegated shall provide copies free of charge to the Office of the Governor, the Department of State, the Legislature, and in its discretion, any such persons or entities that meet indigence requirements as established by regulations.
History —Dec. 1, 2009, No. 161, § 11.7.