Planning Guidelines For Hurricane Repairs
Following the impact of Hurricane Joaquin, the Department of Planning issued guidelines about repairing any damage to your property, and the full statement from the Department of Planning follows below.
The Department of Planning knows you want to repair any damage to your property caused by tropical storms and hurricanes as soon as possible. The Department of Planning technical officers are available to assist.
Repairs to Buildings
Like for like repairs of windows, doors and roof slate will not require planning permission or a building permit if the damage is limited to non-structural issues. Owners can proceed immediately with these types of repairs as soon as it is feasibly possible.
Repairs to buildings that received structural damage as a result of the hurricane may only commence following the receipt of a building permit from the Department of Planning. These applications will be given priority and will be processed expeditiously.
Class III of the Development and Planning (General Development) Order 1999 says that a General Development Permit can be used for damages caused by storms and fire provided that no more than 60% of the building has been destroyed and that the replacement is not greater than the building which existed before the damage occurred.
Please review the General Development Order Guidance Note for more information:
For building permit information please contact Gordon Ness on 297-7375 or gkness@gov.bm . For development application information please contact Victoria Pereira on 294-9114 or vpereira@gov.bm .
Repairs to Listed Buildings
Repairs to Listed Buildings or buildings located within Historic Protection Areas that received structural damage as a result of the hurricane may only commence following receipt of a building permit from the Department. All such permit applications will be expedited by the Department.
Repairs to a Listed Building damaged as a result of a hurricane using “like-for-like” details and materials will not require planning permission or a building permit if the damage is limited to non-structural issues. Owners can proceed immediately with repairing items such as windows, doors and roof slate with identical materials to replicate the style and detailing of the original structure.
For further information or advice, please contact Richard Lowry, Heritage Officer on 297-7781 or rmlowry@gov.bm .
Please review Guidance Note 203 for more information:
Repairs to Damaged Sea Walls and Docks
Seawalls and docks to be replaced will ordinarily require a building permit only. This is to ensure that the replacement structures meet the current Bermuda Building Code and are structurally sound. Since seawalls and docks can have a negative impact on the natural foreshore both physically and visually, planning permission may be required in some instances. Prior to considering any repair works the Department of Planning should be consulted.
Assistance, information and clarification of the requirements should be directed to the Department of Planning at 297-7756. For the most up to date information visit the Department’s website or Facebook Page: Department of Planning – Government of Bermuda.
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