WILLEMSTAD - The Urban Planning Service (ROP) provides information about the process for applying for a construction permit. To apply for a permit, you must fill out a comprehensive form, which is available at the ROP office.
When requesting a construction permit for a house or construction within the yard of an existing house, along with the form, you need to submit 2 copies of the construction maps. In other cases, you need to submit 3 copies of the construction map.
All maps must be drawn to a scale of 1:100 and must indicate the following parts of the construction:
Partition map (“plattegrond”)
Foundation/sewage system
Roof plan
All facades and sections (“doorsnedes”)
A situation sketch at 1:500 or 1:1000 scale
The ‘Bouw en Woningverordening’ law gives ROP the right, on behalf of the Minister of Traffic, Transportation, and Urban Planning (ROP), to request additional information from the client if necessary during the processing of the permit application.
There are certain fees associated with the construction permit application. These are known as ‘leges’. The amount of the “Leges” is determined based on the calculated value of the construction, in accordance with the ‘Eilandsverordening leges, precariorechten en retributies’ law. This fee can be paid via ‘swipe’ at the ROP office, through a bank deposit receipt, or via online banking to account number 31967701 at Maduro & Curiel’s Bank.
Every construction permit application is evaluated based on:
Curaçao's 'Bouw- en Woningverordening 1935' law;
Curaçao's 'Eilandelijke Ontwikkelingsplan (EOP)' article applicable to the concerned area;
Note "Invulling en vastlegging toetsingsnormen en criteria EOP";
Approved plan(s) in force for the concerned area;
Approved subdivision plan ("verkavelingsplan"), if applicable for the concerned area.
The processing of a construction permit application takes approximately 6 weeks for construction applications valued at 1 million guilders or less, and an average of 8 weeks for construction applications valued at more than 1 million guilders.
Currently, ROP faces various challenges due to a lack of personnel. Several applications require external advice, which prolongs the necessary time to complete an application. ROP asks for understanding regarding this matter.
Constructing without or not in accordance with a construction permit is a punishable offense for which the concerned person can be prosecuted under the law (Article 7, Bouw- en Woningverordening 1935).
You can contact ROP via email at info.rop@gobiernu.cw. You can also reach out via WhatsApp at 511-3874 for any information. We make every effort to address all requests or questions as soon as possible.