Countries › Dominican Republic › Guide › 13. Regulation › Environmental licensing

Environmental licensing

Last verified: 2026-10-30 · Status: Stable

Any project that can affect the environment needs authorization before it starts, by category from A (license, up to 190 working days) to D (minimal impact, provincial office). A filing costs RD$5,000 and the final fee is set by formula on the investment. A compliance bond of 10% of the cost of the management program's works also applies.

USD figures use the Banco Central de la República Dominicana reference selling rate of RD$60.9007 per US dollar, as shown on its home page on 30 October 2026, rounded to the cent.

Key facts

Published time, category A	190 working daysMinistry service sheet, as of 2026-10-30 · in force
Published time, category B	125 working daysMinistry service sheet, as of 2026-10-30 · in force
Published time, category C	60 working daysMinistry service sheet, as of 2026-10-30 · in force
Compliance bond	10 % of program worksLey 64-00 art. 47, as of 2026-10-30 · in force
Application fee on the portal	5000 DOPMinistry services portal, as of 2026-10-30 · in force

The rule

1. Every project, infrastructure work, industry or activity that may affect the environment must get a permit or license from the Ministry before it starts, according to the size of its effects.Ley 64-00 General sobre Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales, art. 40, 2000-08-18 official text · verified 2026-10-30

2. The evaluation tools are the impact statement, strategic evaluation, impact study, environmental report, license, permit, audits and public consultation.Ley 64-00 General sobre Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales, art. 38, 2000-08-18 official text · verified 2026-10-30

3. An impact evaluation is needed for ports, dams, high voltage lines, power plants, airports, roads, urban developments and industrial plants, among others listed.Ley 64-00 General sobre Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales, art. 41, 2000-08-18 official text · verified 2026-10-30

4. A License goes to high impact projects, category A, with an impact study. A Permit goes to moderate impact, category B, with an impact statement. A Constancia goes to low impact, category C. A CRIM certificate goes to minimal impact, category D.Ministry of Environment, public guidance, Frequently asked questions, 2026 official text · verified 2026-10-30

5. The published times are 190 working days for A, 125 for B and 60 for C.Ministry of Environment, service sheet, Procedure, 2026 official text · verified 2026-10-30

6. Category A, B and C filings go to the Ventanilla Única at headquarters, and D goes to the provincial directorate.Ministry of Environment, service sheet, Procedure, 2026 official text · verified 2026-10-30

7. The application fee is shown as RD$5,000 by request on the portal, while the sheet for categories A to D words it as five thousand pesos but prints RD$2,000 in figures for A, B and C, and RD$2,000 for D.
Cost to do it: RD$5,000 (US$82.10) or RD$2,000 (US$32.84); confirm at the windowMinistry of Environment, service sheets, Cost, 2026 official text · verified 2026-10-30

8. The authorization fee is the public sector minimum salary times a factor tied to total investment. For facilities already running, the factor is tied to yearly net profit. The sheet cites resolution 11-2016 of 25 July 2016.Ministry of Environment, service sheets, citing Resolución 11-2016, Tariff, 2016-07-25 official text · verified 2026-10-30

9. Requirements include a request letter, registration form, ID, RNC and Registro Mercantil, title, cadastral plan, the municipal letter of no objection on land use, a summary of the project and a topographic sheet.Ministry of Environment, service sheet, General requirements, 2026 official text · verified 2026-10-30

10. The permit or license carries a management and adaptation program, with follow up and self monitoring.Ley 64-00 General sobre Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales, art. 44 and art. 46 paragraph, 2000-08-18 official text · verified 2026-10-30

11. The holder takes on administrative, civil and criminal liability for damage, must run the program and must allow inspection.Ley 64-00 General sobre Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales, art. 45, 2000-08-18 official text · verified 2026-10-30

12. The holder must post a compliance bond of 10% of the total cost of the works or investment needed for the program.
Example: Program works of RD$20,000,000: bond of RD$2,000,000 / US$328,403.45; bond of US$32,840.35Ley 64-00 General sobre Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales, art. 47, 2000-08-18 official text · verified 2026-10-30

13. The Ministry publishes permits and licenses granted, and those sanctioned.Ley 64-00 General sobre Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales, art. 48, 2000-08-18 official text · verified 2026-10-30

14. The Compendium of regulations and procedures for authorizations was issued by Resolución 13-2014, and Resolución 0025-2024 amended the impact evaluation rules and procedure.Resolución 13-2014; Resolución 0025-2024 (title via UNEP LEAP), Whole text, 2014-09-22 official text · verified 2026-10-30

15. Renewal costs what the resolution sets and takes 60 to 120 working days. A duplicate costs one public sector minimum salary and takes 30 working days.Ministry of Environment, services portal, Services list, 2026 official text · verified 2026-10-30

Category	Instrument	Impact	Study	Time
A	Licencia	High	Impact study	190 working days
B	Permiso	Moderate	Impact statement	125 working days
C	Constancia	Low	Compliance with rules	60 working days
D	CRIM	Minimal	Compliance with rules	Provincial office; portal range starts at 30 working days

Step by step

Run the Ministry's online calculator for a first fee estimate.
Get the municipal letter of no objection on land use.
File with the Ventanilla Única, or the provincial office for category D.
The Ministry visits, then assigns a category. A and B get terms of reference for a study.
Hire a qualified environmental consultant and submit the study.
Pay the fee, post the bond and start self monitoring.

Common traps

Starting before you have the authorization breaches art. 40 and can bring a suspension or closure under art. 167.
The fee sheet contradicts itself on RD$5,000 and RD$2,000. Bring a certified check after confirming the amount.
The fee formula uses the public sector minimum salary, which we could not confirm, so this guide gives no fee estimate. Resolution 11-2016 itself was not retrieved.
Art. 47 bases the bond on the program's works, not the whole project.
Times are published targets, and run on working days.
Coastal, protected area and water rules add layers. See real-estate/protected-areas-and-environmental-permits.

Sources

← Company criminal liability and compliance programsEnvironmental liability and sanctions →

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