The Town and Country Planning Division is engaged in two main activities.
Development Planning - the preparation and review of physical development plans for the entire country, that is, the preparation of a national physical development plan, or plans for part of the country and the formulation of policies for the use and development of land.
Development Control - the control and promotion of the use and development of land in conformity with the land use policies and plans. Before any development of land is undertaken, planning permission must be sought and obtained under the Town and Country Planning Act.
The Division also monitors on-going development activity in communities to ensure that development is being done according to the planning permission granted.
In addition, permission is required for the display of advertisements.
Members of the public who intend to undertake the following activities would require the Development Control services of the Division:
sub division of any land, erection of new buildings or structures for any purpose, making additions or alterations to existing buildings or structures;
engineering operations such as the cutting, grading or filling of any land;
the laying out and construction of roads, drains or other infrastructure;
changing the use of a building or land;
mining operations;
display of advertisements.
Any member of the public carrying out any of the above activities must submit an application and obtain planning permission beforehand.
Applications for planning permission and the display of advertisement must be submitted on the designated forms which may be obtained at the Division's Regional Offices.
The Division's professional and technical staff at the Regional Offices are also available on a Thursday to advise the public and give guidance on any matter relating to the submission of applications for permission.
An application for full planning permission must include the following documents:
Four (4) copies of application form.
Four (4) copies of a location plan identifying the site.
Four (4) copies of the detailed plans, drawings and particulars necessary to describe the proposed development.
For building operations, an application may first be submitted for outline planning permission. Such an application must include the following documents:
Two (2) copies of the appropriate application forms.
Two (2) copies of a location plan identifying the site.
Copy of Deed and survey plan, as required.
The Regional Offices where the public may obtain the Development Control services of the Division are as follows
North Regional Office - Serving the former St. George West and County Caroni, the City of Port-of-Spain and the Borough of Chaguanas -
Ground Floor
Eric Williams Finance Building
Eric Williams Plaza
Independence Square
Port-of-Spain
East Regional Office - Serving the former St. George Central, St. George East, County St. Andrew/St. David and the Borough of Arima -
Building No. 11
Valpark Shopping Plaza
Valsayn
St. Joseph
South Regional Office - Serving the City of San Fernando, Former Counties Victoria, St. Patrick, Nariva/Mayaro and the Borough of Point Fortin -
Ground Floor
OWTU Building, Palm's Club
Pointe-a-Pierre Road
San Fernando
Tobago Regional Office - Serving Tobago -
Ground Floor
Works Building
Castries Street
Scarborough
Tobago
Courtesy Ministry of Public Administration and Information