Title 29 — Public Planning and Development
25 chapters · 546 sections in this title.
29 V.I.C. § 34 Quorum and majority
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A majority of the Board of commissioners shall constitute a quorum of the Board of Commissioners of the Authority for the purpose of conducting the business of the Authority and exercising its powers, and for all other purposes, notwithstanding the existence of any vacancies, exc…
29 V.I.C. § 35 Powers and duties of the Authority
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(1) The Authority shall have all the powers necessary and convenient to carry out and perform the purposes and provisions of this chapter (except the power to levy and collect taxes or special assessments), including the following powers in addition to other powers granted in thi…
29 V.I.C. § 36 Participation in Federal programs
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(a) The Authority is empowered and authorized to participate in the programs of the Federal Government in the fields of housing for low-income families and for persons engaged in national defense activities or for victims of a major disaster, and related activities. (b) In connec…
29 V.I.C. § 37 Housing for disaster victims and defense workers
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Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter relating to rentals of, preferences or eligibility for admission to, or occupancy of dwellings in housing projects, during the period when the Authority determines that there is an acute need in this area of operation for housing to …
29 V.I.C. § 38 Interest of commissioners and others in projects; duty to disclose; violation
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During his tenure and for one year thereafter, no commissioner, officer or employee of the Authority shall voluntarily acquire any personal interest, direct or indirect in any project or in any property included or planned to be included in any project, or in any contract or prop…
29 V.I.C. § 39 Advisory Council on Housing
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(a) There is hereby created an Advisory Council on Housing, hereinafter referred to as the “Council”. The Council shall consist of six tenant representatives elected from the public rental housing projects. Three of the representatives shall be from housing projects on St. Croix …
29 V.I.C. § 61 Limitation on rentals or payments; factors to be considered
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(1) It is declared to be the policy of the Virgin Islands that the Authority shall manage and operate housing projects established for low-income families in the most economical and efficient manner consistent with applicable requirements, so as to enable it to fix rentals or cha…
29 V.I.C. § 62 Duties of Authority with respect to rentals and rent selection
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(1) Subject to such requirements as the Federal Government may impose with respect to Federally-aided housing projects, which shall in any event prevail, the Authority, in the operation and management of low-rent housing projects shall observe the following criteria:(1) It may re…
29 V.I.C. § 63 Tenant management of public housing projects
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(a) The Virgin Islands Housing Authority shall provide financial technical assistance to public housing tenant organizations which request such assistance in an attempt to establish tenant management of public housing projects pursuant to section 122 of the Housing and Community …
29 V.I.C. § 64 Establishment of an Internal Police Force
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(a) The Virgin Islands Housing Authority is hereby authorized to establish an internal police force with the power to police its property and to exercise police powers for the protection of the persons and property of its residents, employees and visitors, for the enforcement of …
29 V.I.C. § 65 Bonding for Internal Police Force
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(a) The Virgin Islands Housing Authority is hereby granted the power and authority to enter into a contractual agreement with a licensed bonding agency for the purpose of providing bonding or insurance coverage for its law enforcement officers. (b) In the event that a commissione…
29 V.I.C. § 81 Administration of urban renewal functions
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The Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority, established by Title 21, chapter 2, section 103, V.I.C., shall administer the provisions of this subchapter. All powers, duties, and functions of the Virgin Islands Urban Renewal Board existing prior to June 24, 1987, are transferred …
29 V.I.C. § 85 Powers and duties of the Authority
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(1) The Authority shall have all the powers necessary and convenient to carry out and perform the purposes and provisions of this chapter (except the power to levy and collect taxes or special assessments), including the following powers in addition to other powers granted in thi…
29 V.I.C. § 86 Participation in Federal programs
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(a) The Authority is empowered and authorized to participate in the programs of the Federal Government in the fields of urban renewal and urban planning, and related activities. (b) In connection with such participation, and in addition to powers otherwise conferred by this chapt…
29 V.I.C. § 87 Limitations on liability
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(a) No judgment shall be rendered against the Virgin Islands Housing Authority or the Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority in excess of $25,000 in any suit or action against the Authority with respect to any injury or loss of property or personal injury or death which:(i) may…
29 V.I.C. § 91 Declaration of urban renewal policy
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(a) It is declared to be the policy of the Virgin Islands to undertake and pursue an active urban renewal program for the elimination and for the prevention of the development or spread of slums and blight in the several communities of the Virgin Islands, within the contemplation…
29 V.I.C. § 92 Approval of urban renewal projects, preparation and approval of urban renewal plans; modifications
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(a) Any urban renewal project to be undertaken and carried out under the provisions of this chapter shall be approved by the Governor. The Governor shall not approve an urban renewal project nor shall the Authority acquire real property for any such urban renewal project unless, …
29 V.I.C. § 93 Disposal of property for uses in accordance with plan
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(a) Subject to such requirements and procedures as the Federal Government may impose with respect to Federally-aided urban renewal projects, which shall in any event prevail—(a) The Authority may sell, lease or otherwise transfer real property or any interest therein acquired by …
29 V.I.C. § 94 Disaster areas
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(a) Where the Legislature, by resolution, finds and determines that an urban area is in need of redevelopment or rehabilitation as the result of a major disaster, the Authority is authorized and empowered to plan, undertake and carry out under the provisions of this chapter an ur…
29 V.I.C. § 95 Relocation of bonded aliens
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Whenever it is required by law or regulation that a bonded alien residing in any urban renewal project area in the Virgin Islands shall be relocated, the responsibility for such relocation shall rest with the employer of said bonded alien. The Executive Director of the Virgin Isl…
29 V.I.C. § 201 Findings and purpose
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The Legislature finds that there exists currently within the Virgin Islands a serious emergency with respect to the housing of a large number of persons and families, who, because of circumstances beyond their control, are being obliged to vacate premises rented by them for their…
29 V.I.C. § 202 Definitions
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As used in sections 201–205 of this title, “emergency housing” shall mean structures designed to provide decent, safe and sanitary living accommodations for persons and families in circumstances as described in section 201 of this title, and, in addition to buildings, shall inclu…
29 V.I.C. § 203 Construction and maintenance of housing for dispossessed persons; construction on lands held in fee simple
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(a) The Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority in conjunction with the V.I. Interagency Council on Homelessness and the Commissioner of the Department of Human Services shall cooperate in the preparation of plans, construction and maintenance of buildings, and administration of…
29 V.I.C. § 204 Use or acquisition of lands and buildings
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For the purpose of providing sites for emergency housing under sections 201–205 of this title, the Governor is authorized to use any available lands or buildings owned by the Government of the United States Virgin Islands, not otherwise devoted to a public use, or to acquire by l…
29 V.I.C. § 205 Rules and regulations
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The Governor shall cause to be issued, through the Executive Director of the Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority in conjunction with the Virgin Islands Interagency Council on Homelessness and the Commissioner of the Department of Human Services, rules and regulations, not in…
29 V.I.C. § 206 Creation of Emergency Housing Fund
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There is hereby appropriated from any available balances in the General Fund of the Treasury of the Virgin Islands the sum of $150,000 which shall be transferred by the Governor out of the General Fund and deposited in the Special Fund in a Sub-Account to be known and designated …
29 V.I.C. § 207 Use of Fund for emergency housing and stimulation of home construction
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1. Emergency Housing Fund shall be expended, in the discretion of the Governor:1. for construction and operation of emergency housing as authorized in sections 201–205 of this title; and2. for stimulation of private home construction through such programs or activities as the Gov…
29 V.I.C. § 208 Deposit of rentals and other revenues in Fund; use
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All rentals or other revenues of the emergency housing program, and all collections resulting from activities for the stimulation of private home construction, shall be deposited in the Emergency Housing Fund and shall there be available for expenditure for the purposes of the Fu…
29 V.I.C. § 209 Repealed. Oct. 30, 1970, No. 2872, Sess. L. 1970, p. 358
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29 V.I.C. § 209 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. § 209a Eligibility for emergency housing
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In accordance with the standards prescribed in sections 209a-209h of this title, occupants of single-family emergency housing units shall be eligible for a first priority to purchase said units.
29 V.I.C. § 209b Certificates of eligibility
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Only those occupants who are issued certificates of eligibility shall be entitled to a first priority to purchase single-family housing units.
29 V.I.C. § 209c Review by Executive Director
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Before a certificate of eligibility shall be issued, the Executive Director of the Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority in conjunction with the chairperson of the V.I. Interagency Council on Homelessness shall review the willingness of an occupant to purchase a single-family …
29 V.I.C. § 209d Authority of Executive Director
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The Executive Director of the Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority with the approval of the Governor is authorized with respect to the sale of emergency housing units:to issue certificates of eligibility as provided in sections 209a-209h of this title;to fix the purchase pric…
29 V.I.C. § 209e Contract provisions
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(a) The purchaser shall have the option to purchase the premises for cash or by a promissory note secured by a first priority mortgage on the premises. (b) The Executive Director of the Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority may insert in the deed customary provisions which he …
29 V.I.C. § 209f Restraints on alienation
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An eligible occupant may elect to purchase the premises for cash or at any time after the execution of a contract of lease with an option to purchase, but the deed of conveyance shall prohibit the lease, sublease, sale or transfer by gift, or otherwise, of the emergency housing u…
29 V.I.C. § 209g Certification of available units
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No contracts shall be executed, nor shall any deeds be issued unless the Executive Director of the Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority finds and certifies to the Governor that there are a sufficient number of multiple-family housing units available for the continued operatio…
29 V.I.C. § 209h Choice of units
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(a) [Repealed.] (b) Nothing contained in sections 209a-209h of this title shall be construed or interpreted to require the Commissioner in making an initial assignment under the emergency housing program to choose between assignment of an occupant to a single-family unit or assig…
29 V.I.C. § 210 Priority to purchase government housing
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Lessees of emergency housing under the provisions of this chapter shall be eligible for a first priority to purchase housing units in any Government-sponsored housing project wherein housing units are available for sale.
29 V.I.C. § 211 Definitions
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As used in this chapter:“Housing for elderly persons” means multifamily rental accommodations and related facilities meeting the qualifying standards for FHA insured mortgages under the provisions of section 207 of the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C. sec. 1713) and regulations th…
29 V.I.C. § 212 Contracts; lease and purchase agreements; guarantee of notes; payments
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(a) The Governor of the Virgin Islands is hereby directed and authorized, on behalf of the Government of the United States Virgin Islands to:(a) Contract engineering and architectural services for the selection of sites, preparation of surveys and plans, and construction cost est…
29 V.I.C. § 213 Approval of agreements by Legislature
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Any agreement or agreements made under the provisions of paragraph (b) of section 212 of this title, shall be subject to approval by the Legislature.
29 V.I.C. § 214 Authorization for appropriations
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There is hereby authorized to be appropriated from time to time by the Legislature, such sums as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter.
29 V.I.C. § 221 Objectives and intent
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The objective of the Zoning Law is to establish standards and policies concerning development of land which may be used in helping to achieve the goals of a General Development Plan for the Virgin Islands. Goals for development of the Islands are expressed in many ways through pr…
29 V.I.C. § 222 Purpose and scope
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The purpose of this law is the promotion of the health, safety, morals and general welfare of the community by establishing regulations and conditions governing the erection and use of buildings and other structures and the use of land and water for trade, industry, residence and…
29 V.I.C. § 223 Establishment of zoning districts
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1. The Virgin Islands, consisting of the Islands of St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John and all other islands within the jurisdiction of the Virgin Islands, are divided into eighteen (18) districts (not all of which are found on each of the Islands), as follows:1. A-1 Agricultural…
29 V.I.C. § 224 Establishment of zoning maps
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Zoning maps Zoning maps (a) The boundaries and identification of the Zoning Districts established by this law are shown on the Zoning District Maps identified as Document Numbers STZ-1 to 11, SCZ-1 to 20, SJZ-1 to 7, and OIZ-1, inclusive, which are filed in the office of the Lieu…
29 V.I.C. § 225 Definitions
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General provision General provision (a) All words used in the present tense include the future tense. All words in the plural number include the singular number and all words in the singular number include the plural number, unless the natural construction of the wording indicate…
29 V.I.C. § 226 General provisions
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Conflicting regulation Conflicting regulation (a) When any provision of this subchapter imposes more stringent requirements, regulations, restrictions, or limitations than are imposed or required by the provisions of any other regulations, statute or law, the provisions of this s…
29 V.I.C. § 227 Land use regulations and table of permitted uses
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Land use regulations Land use regulations No building or structure in any district established by this subchapter shall be erected, converted, enlarged, reconstructed or structurally altered nor shall any building or structure or land be used, designed or arranged for any purpose…
29 V.I.C. § 228 Table of permitted uses
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Land, water and buildings may be used only for a use set forth in the TABLE OF PERMITTED USES and only within those districts specified in said Table and only under the circumstances indicated in said Table, subject to the provisions of sections 229 through 233 of this subchapter…