COMMITTEE ON DISASTER RECOVERY AND 
INFRASTRUCTURE 
 
BILL NO. 
36-0135 
 
Thirty-Sixth Legislature of the Virgin Islands 
 
 
 
August 26, 2025 
 
 
 
An act amending title 29 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 5, section 294 regarding expedited 
building permits for developers 
 
 
 
PROPOSED BY: 
 
Senator Kenneth L. Gittens 
 
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the Virgin Islands: 
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SECTION 1.  Title 29 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 5, section 294 is amended by adding 
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the following subsection (h): 
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“(h) Expedited Building Permits.  The Department of Planning and Natural 
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Resources (DPNR) may offer expedited building permits for developers who request and 
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pay for expedited processing. 
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(1) 
The Commissioner shall establish a fee schedule for expedited building 
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permits based on the complexity, scope, size of the project, and the urgency of the 
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request. 
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(2) 
The developer requesting the expedited permit must pay the applicable 
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fee in full prior to the commencement of the expedited review process.  Payments 
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for expedited permits will be collected by the DPNR and all fees collected will be 
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allocated towards improving the efficiency of permit processing and related 
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services. 
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(3) 
DPNR  shall provide a clear and transparent outline of the expedited 
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permit fee structure, including specific rates for different types of development 
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projects on the Department’s official website.  DPNR shall notify the public, 
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including all interested developers, of any changes to the fee schedule. 
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(4) 
The Governor shall submit a report to the President of the Legislature 
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on the implementation of the expedited building permit fee structure on an annual 
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basis.  The report must include information on the amount collected, the number of 
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expedited permits issued, and the effectiveness of the program in reducing delays 
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in construction.” 
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BILL SUMMARY 
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This bill establishes the framework for allowing the DPNR to offer expedited building 
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permits for a fee and ensures that the process is transparent and subject to legislative oversight. 
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BR25-0375/July 22, 2025/CBM 
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