Title 29 — Public Planning and Development
25 chapters · 546 sections in this title.
29 V.I.C. § 228a Repealed. Mar. 26, 1997, No. 6132, § 3, Sess. L. 1997, p. 6
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29 V.I.C. § 228a Statutes current through Act 9046 of the 2025 session of the 36th Legislature, including all code changes through October 25, 2025 Virgin Islands Code AnnotatedCopyright © 2026 All rights reserved.
29 V.I.C. § 229 Development provisions
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A-1 Agricultural Zone A-1 Agricultural Zone (a) The Virgin Islands, at one time, produced a substantial amount of sugar. Today, the sugarcane fields lie fallow and for the most part unused. The Virgin Islands at one time produced beef for export. That situation no longer prevails…
29 V.I.C. § 229a Repealed. Mar. 26, 1997, No. 6132, § 3, Sess. L. 1997, p. 6
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29 V.I.C. § 229a Statutes current through Act 9046 of the 2025 session of the 36th Legislature, including all code changes through October 25, 2025 Virgin Islands Code AnnotatedCopyright © 2026 All rights reserved.
29 V.I.C. § 230 Off-street parking and loading regulations
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Because there is little in the way of mass transportation available in the Virgin Islands (bus line on St. Thomas), most of the inhabitants, permanent and temporary, are dependent upon either private automobiles or their feet as a means of transportation. Taxi service is availabl…
29 V.I.C. § 230a Use of subdivision roadways or streets
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The use of any roadway or street onto, within or through any subdivision of residential development of ten or more dwellings, which roadway or street is open to the use of any other persons as guests, visitors or permittees, other than the actual inhabitants thereof, shall not be…
29 V.I.C. § 231 Uses permitted subject to conditions
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Required conditions for permitted uses Required conditions for permitted uses (a) The general uses of land permitted by the TABLE OF PERMITTED USES in each district are intended to be used with common characteristics which are consistent with the purpose established by this subch…
29 V.I.C. § 232 Planned area development
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With strict limitations in most zoning laws for yards and other open spaces, it has been found that some imaginative developments that would prove beneficial to the community could not be constructed as they did not meet the strict letter of the law. In order to allow sound and i…
29 V.I.C. § 232a Development of affordable housing; applications for planned area affordable housing development permits
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(a) Intent and purpose. There is a critical shortage of decent, safe, sanitary and affordable housing in the United States Virgin Islands. One of the factors contributing to the shortage of affordable housing is outmoded and rigid zoning and subdivision laws and building codes. T…
29 V.I.C. § 233 Accessory uses
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General limitations upon accessory uses General limitations upon accessory uses (a) An accessory use shall be located upon the same lot with a principal use, unless otherwise set forth in this subchapter.An accessory use shall be subordinate to the principal use and shall be a us…
29 V.I.C. § 234 Nonconforming uses
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Scope Scope (a) Any lawful use of land or a building existing at the date of passage of this subchapter and located in a district in which it would not be permitted as a new use under the regulations of this subchapter, is hereby declared to be a nonconforming use, and not in vio…
29 V.I.C. § 235 Administration and enforcement
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Administration Administration (a) This subchapter and chapters 5 and 7 of Title 6, Virgin Islands Code, shall be administered and enforced by a Zoning Administrator who shall be the Commissioner of Planning and Natural Resources. The Commissioner of Planning and Natural Resources…
29 V.I.C. § 236 The Board of Land Use Appeals
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General powers of the board for the administration of the zoning law General powers of the board for the administration of the zoning law (a) The Board of Land Use Appeals is a body of limited powers. It may not change the use of property from that permitted by the Zoning Law nor…
29 V.I.C. § 237 The Virgin Islands Planning Office
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General review of zoning law by the Virgin Islands Planning Office General review of zoning law by the Virgin Islands Planning Office (a) The Planning Office shall carry on a continuous review of the effectiveness and appropriateness of the Zoning Law and recommend to the Legisla…
29 V.I.C. § 238 Amendments
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Scope of amendments Scope of amendments (a) Any provision of this subchapter, as well as the boundaries of the various Zoning Districts established herein, may be amended or repealed by the Legislature of the Virgin Islands after due public notice and hearing where parties in int…
29 V.I.C. § 238a Variances by the Legislature
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In those cases where an amendment to a zoning map is requested by a property owner for a specific use of property which is not permitted in the zoning district where the property is located, but which use would not substantially conflict with the permitted uses in the zoning dist…
29 V.I.C. § 239 Public hearings
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General regulations on public hearings General regulations on public hearings (a) Public notice of any hearing as required by this subchapter, to be conducted by the Board of Land Use Appeals, or Planning Office, shall be deemed to have been given when the following actions have …
29 V.I.C. § 240 Penalty for violation
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The owner or general agent of a building or premises where a violation of any provision of this subchapter has been committed or shall exist, or the lessee or tenant of an entire building or entire premises where such violation has been committed or shall exist, or the general ag…
29 V.I.C. § 241 Interpretation of regulations
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In the interpretation and application of the provisions of this subchapter, such provisions shall be held to be the minimum requirements adopted for the promotion of the health, safety, morals or the general welfare of the Virgin Islands. It is not intended by this subchapter to …
29 V.I.C. § 242 Fees
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Establishment of fees Establishment of fees (a) Certain fees are herein established for filing of applications with the Virgin Islands Planning Office or the Board of Land Use Appeals. Such fees shall not apply to applications initiated by the Government of the United States Virg…
29 V.I.C. § 272 Purposes
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(1) The purposes of this subchapter are, within the islands of St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix:(1) to regulate the subdivision of land;(2) to provide for the orderly development of prospective street systems. (1) to regulate the subdivision of land; (2) to provide for the orde…
29 V.I.C. § 273 Definitions
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For the purpose of this subchapter the term “subdivision” means the division of a parcel of land into 4 or more lots or parcels for the purpose of transfer of ownership or building development, or, if a new street is involved, any division of a parcel of land. Any division of lan…
29 V.I.C. § 274 Subdivision regulations
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(a) The Virgin Islands Planning Office of the Department of Planning and Natural Resources shall administer the provisions of this subchapter, and may issue from time to time such rules and regulations pursuant to title 3, Chapter 35 Virgin Islands Code (Filing and Publication of…
29 V.I.C. § 275 Subdivision plans
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(a) Upon filing of an application with the Planning Director for approval of a preliminary plat or general subdivision plan, the subdivider shall submit to the Planning Director such plans and data as may be required by the Planning Director as necessary to provide information as…
29 V.I.C. § 275a Fees
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(a) The following non-refundable fees shall apply to the subdivision of land: Other than a Planned Unit Development Initial application fee $10 plusFor subdivision of 5 acres but less than 20 acres 15020 acres but less than 50 acres 25050 acres but less than 75 acres 40075 acres …
29 V.I.C. § 276 Variances
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(a) Hardship. Where the Commissioner of Planning and Natural Resources finds that extraordinary hardships may result from strict compliance with this subchapter, or regulations adopted pursuant thereto, it may vary the terms of this subchapter so that substantial justice may be d…
29 V.I.C. § 277 Appeals
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Appeals from decisions of the Commissioner of Planning and Natural Resources shall be made to the Board of Land Use Appeals, and thereafter to the District Court of the Virgin Islands in accordance with the procedure set forth in section 270 of this title. (a) Building and use pe…
29 V.I.C. § 278 Subdivisions in the Coastal Zone
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Notwithstanding anything in this subchapter to the contrary, applications made pursuant to this subchapter for subdivisions of land within the first tier of the coastal zone, as defined in Title 12, chapter 21 of this Code, shall not be approved by the Planning Director unless th…
29 V.I.C. § 280 Declaration of policy
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(1) The Legislature of the Virgin Islands finds and declares—(1) That the historic heritage in ancient landmarks, and the fine architecture of several centuries which reflect the skills, crafts and culture of the Virgin Islands life, as well as the taste and judgment of the settl…
29 V.I.C. § 281 Administration of subchapter, functions of the Virgin Islands Historic Preservation Commission; Advisory Commission on Historic Landmarks
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(a) The Virgin Islands Historic Preservation Commission shall administer the provisions of this subchapter, and, in implementation and effectuation of such responsibility, shall, without limitation on the generality of the foregoing, have the following powers:(1) Exercise and per…
29 V.I.C. § 282 Registry of Historic Buildings, Sites, and Places
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The Virgin Islands Historic Preservation Commission is authorized to prepare from time to time, after due notice and public hearings, for submission to the Legislature and the Governor for approval, an inventory, to be known as the “Virgin Islands Registry of Historic Buildings, …
29 V.I.C. § 283 Historic and Architectural Control Districts
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The Virgin Islands Historic Preservation Commission is hereby authorized to prepare from time to time, after due notice and public hearings, for submission to the Legislature and the Governor for approval, maps (and amendments, revisions, modifications, or additions thereto) of a…
29 V.I.C. § 284 Approval of Registry and Historic and Architectural Control Districts; authentication
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(a) The Virgin Islands Registry of Historic Buildings, Sites, and Places, and the maps of the Virgin Islands Historic and Architectural Control Districts, shall be submitted to the Legislature and to the Governor. The said Registry and maps of Control Districts, or any parts ther…
29 V.I.C. § 285 Building permits in Historic and Architectural Control Districts and Registry
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(a) Until plans therefor are submitted to and acted upon by the Virgin Islands Historic Preservation Commission, no building or structure, including stone walls, fences, paving and steps, may be erected, reconstructed, altered, restored, moved, or demolished within any Historic a…
29 V.I.C. § 286 Coordination of other departments and agencies with the Virgin Islands Historic Preservation Commission
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(a) In order to effectuate the intent of this subchapter, the Commissioner of Planning and Natural Resources, before issuing a building permit for work on or demolition of any building or structure in any Historic and Architectural Control District or listed in the Registry, shal…
29 V.I.C. § 287 Appeals; enforcement; penalties
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(a) Any applicant or property owner aggrieved by a determination of the Historic Preservation Commission may, within thirty days of receiving notice of such a decision by the Historic Preservation Commission, file a written notice of appeal with the Board of Land Use Appeals, and…
29 V.I.C. § 288 Construction
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This subchapter, being designated for the public welfare and the perpetuation of those structures and areas which have a close and immediate relationship to the cultural heritage of the Virgin Islands, shall be broadly construed in order to accomplish the purposes herein set fort…
29 V.I.C. § 291 Title
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This chapter and the regulations issued pursuant to the authority hereinafter granted by this chapter shall be known and referred to as the Virgin Islands Building Code.
29 V.I.C. § 292 General purposes, application, and scope
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(a) The purpose of this chapter is to safeguard life and limb, property, and public welfare, through the establishment of minimum building requirements for structural strength and stability. (b) Application. (1) General—The provisions of this chapter shall apply to the design, ma…
29 V.I.C. § 292a Adoption and Amendment of Codes and Standards
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(a) General. The Codes set forth in this title are hereby adopted by reference. Such Codes shall be kept available for use or reference by the general public by the Department of Planning and Natural Resources. No special permit shall be required for the installation of the type …
29 V.I.C. § 293 Definitions
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Unless otherwise noted by this section, terms defined in the codes and standards adopted in section 292a, including the International Building Code, International Residential Code, International Fire Code, International Energy Conservation Code, International Mechanical Code, and…
29 V.I.C. § 294 Permits
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(a) Permits, requirements for exceptions. (1) After May 1, 1964, a permit issued by the Commissioner shall be required for the construction, reconstruction, structural alteration, enlargement, moving, conversion, or demolition of any building or structure, or appurtenances connec…
29 V.I.C. § 294a Wireless facilities and wireless support structures
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(a) It is unlawful for any person to construct a wireless facility or a wireless support structure or substantially modify an existing structure without an approved application issued by the Department in compliance with this section, in addition to the permit required in section…
29 V.I.C. § 295 Appeals—Procedure, Board of Land Use Appeals
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(a) Any person who feels that an injustice has been done him by any order, rule, or regulation of the Commissioner of Planning and Natural Resources or the Commissioner of Health issued under the authority provided in this Code may appeal therefrom to the Board of Land Use Appeal…
29 V.I.C. § 296 Fees and fines for building permits
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(a) The Commissioner shall establish and maintain a schedule for commercial and residential, fees for permits, surveys, licenses for surveyors, and the location of bound posts shall be as specified in the rules and regulations referred to in section 312 of this title. No changes …
29 V.I.C. § 297 Inspection by Commissioner; correction of violations
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(a) The Commissioner or his authorized representatives may for the purpose of performing their official duties under this chapter enter and inspect any building or structure or any part thereof, including plumbing and wiring for light or power, any enclosure, or any premises at a…
29 V.I.C. § 298 Supervision and certification
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(a) The construction of every new building shall be made under the supervision of an engineer, architect or contractor duly authorized to practice his profession in the Virgin Islands, provided, however, that such supervision is optional on the part of the owner of the building i…
29 V.I.C. § 301 Residential design and facilities requirements
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After May 1, 1964, no permit for the building or use of any structure for residential occupancy shall be issued unless the structure to be constructed, reconstructed, enlarged, altered, or converted conforms in its design and facilities to the applicable requirements of the Build…
29 V.I.C. § 302 Excavations affecting adjoining properties
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When an excavation is to be made to any depth whatsoever, the architect, engineer, contractor or other person causing the excavation to be made shall make sure that all the necessary precautions are taken to protect the adjoining property against any damage and shall, when necess…
29 V.I.C. § 303 Foundation standards
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(a) General requirements. Foundation walls or other permanent supports shall rest on solid ground or on piles when solid earth or rock is not found. Such foundation walls shall not be required in one-story buildings if the floor area does not exceed 750 square feet and the buildi…
29 V.I.C. § 308 Water supply, cisterns, gutters, downspouts, wells
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(a) General. After May 1, 1964, no building commercial developments shall be constructed, enlarged, or moved unless the owner thereof shall make provision for self-sustaining water supply system, except such systems shall not be required for commercial developments, dwellings and…