Existing user? Sign in
Share your needs with us, get contacted by law firms.
Free. Takes 2 min.
Free Guide to Hiring a Real Estate Lawyer
Salcedo is the capital city of the Hermanas Mirabal Province in the northern Cibao region. The area is known for agriculture, especially cacao and plantains, small-scale forestry, water resources tied to nearby micro-watersheds, and a mosaic of rural communities. Natural resources law in Salcedo sits at the intersection of environmental protection, land use, water allocation, agriculture, forestry, mining and quarrying, waste management, and biodiversity conservation. In the Dominican Republic, these topics are governed primarily by national laws and institutions, with provincial and municipal participation in enforcement and permitting. If you plan to farm, build, extract materials, operate a facility, use river or groundwater, or work near protected areas, you will likely encounter the environmental and natural resources framework.
You may need a lawyer when your activity requires an environmental permit or license, for example when building a processing plant, starting or expanding a farm near a stream, opening a small aggregate pit, setting up a sawmill, or installing a wastewater treatment system. Legal counsel is helpful to determine whether your project needs an environmental impact assessment, to prepare and submit applications and technical studies, and to negotiate conditions with authorities. A lawyer can defend you in inspections and enforcement cases involving fines, closures, or remediation orders. If you received a citation for cutting trees without a permit or extracting river gravel, counsel can manage the administrative process and any criminal exposure. If there are land tenure or boundary issues affecting access to water, forest stands, or conservation areas, a lawyer can help clear title or establish easements. For community or cooperative projects, counsel can structure agreements, ensure public participation, and address benefit sharing. For businesses, counsel can integrate compliance into contracts, supply chains, and financing, including lender due diligence and insurer requirements. If a public project may affect your property or water supply, counsel can help you participate in consultations or file objections and appeals.
The Constitution of the Dominican Republic recognizes the right to a healthy environment and mandates sustainable use of natural resources. The backbone of the field is the General Law on Environment and Natural Resources No. 64-00, which creates the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, sets environmental principles, requires prior environmental permits or licenses for projects and activities, regulates environmental impact assessment, and establishes administrative, civil, and criminal sanctions. Projects are classified by environmental risk, which determines whether they need an environmental license, permit, or a simpler authorization. Depending on the classification, the Ministry may require an environmental impact study, terms of reference, public consultation, and a compliance plan with monitoring and reporting.
Protected areas are governed by the Sectoral Law on Protected Areas No. 202-04. Activities in or near national parks, scientific reserves, and other protected categories are restricted and often require additional authorizations and buffer zone conditions. Forestry and wildlife use are regulated through permits administered by the Ministry of Environment, including permits for tree cutting, transport of timber, reforestation, and wildlife management. Fisheries and aquaculture are regulated by the Fisheries and Aquaculture Law No. 307-04 and overseen by the Dominican Council for Fisheries and Aquaculture, with special rules for inland waters and seasons.
Mining and quarrying are regulated by the Mining Law No. 146-71 and related regulations. Prospecting, exploration, and exploitation require concessions and environmental authorizations. Small-scale extraction of construction aggregates or river materials without permits is prohibited. Water resources are public domain and are managed through concessions and permits for surface and groundwater use. The National Institute of Hydraulic Resources oversees water allocation and works with the Ministry of Environment on watershed protection and environmental flows. Solid waste is governed by the General Law on Comprehensive Management and Co-processing of Solid Waste No. 225-20, which sets obligations for generators and municipalities and regulates waste handling, recycling, and disposal. Municipal ordinances in Salcedo and the Hermanas Mirabal Province address noise, open burning, land use, and local permits for construction and business operations, which must be consistent with national rules. The Public Ministry has a specialized Environmental Prosecutor that can bring criminal cases for serious violations such as illegal logging, wildlife trafficking, or hazardous waste crimes.
Common activities include agroindustrial facilities like cacao drying and processing plants, slaughterhouses, fuel stations, cold storage, medium to large livestock operations, sawmills, quarries and aggregate pits, significant earth movement, construction near rivers or streams, bridges and roads, tourism projects with lodging, and any project within or near protected areas. The exact requirement depends on the project scale and location, determined during the environmental classification stage with the Ministry of Environment.
If your expansion involves clearing forest cover, altering riverbanks, installing irrigation that draws from a stream, or building structures above a certain size, it may trigger an environmental license with a formal study. Smaller, low-risk improvements may proceed with a simpler permit or authorization. A preliminary filing with project details allows the Ministry to issue a classification that tells you what study, if any, is required.
No extraction of river materials is allowed without the proper concession or permit and the corresponding environmental authorization. Unauthorized extraction can lead to confiscation of equipment, fines, and criminal liability. If you need aggregates, purchase from licensed suppliers or apply for the required permits if appropriate for your case.
Cutting, transporting, or commercializing timber without a permit can lead to administrative fines, seizure of timber and equipment, orders to restore, suspension of activities, and in serious cases criminal prosecution. Even on private land, permits are generally required before cutting native trees. Reforestation plans and proof of land rights are often part of the permitting process.
Surface and groundwater are public domain and require a concession or permit that specifies source, volume, and use. You apply with technical information about the source, abstraction method, and impacts. The National Institute of Hydraulic Resources and the Ministry of Environment review availability, competing uses, and environmental considerations. Unauthorized intakes risk closure and penalties.
Respond promptly, cooperate with inspectors, and document the visit. Provide requested permits, monitoring records, and operational information. Do not alter or conceal evidence. If deficiencies are noted, a lawyer can help prepare a corrective action plan, request reasonable deadlines, and challenge any irregularities through administrative remedies.
Yes. Activities in or near protected areas face stricter review, additional buffers, and limits on land clearing, noise, and pollution. Some activities are prohibited. Project documents must include maps, sensitive species information, and mitigation and monitoring tailored to the protected zone category. Early screening is essential to avoid investing in a nonviable site.
National environmental quality and emission standards apply, including maximum levels for noise by time and zone, air pollutant limits for boilers and generators, and effluent standards for discharges to water bodies or sewers. Permits often include site-specific limits and monitoring obligations. Noncompliance can trigger fines and orders to upgrade controls.
Open burning is generally restricted and may be prohibited by municipal ordinance due to air quality and fire risk. Where allowed, it requires authorization with conditions such as time, meteorology, and firebreaks. Safer alternatives include mulching and composting. Burning near forest edges, dwellings, or during dry seasons is particularly restricted.
Primary enforcement is by the Ministry of Environment and its provincial office for Hermanas Mirabal. Water allocation is overseen by the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources. Fisheries enforcement involves the fisheries authority. The Environmental Prosecutor of the Public Ministry handles criminal cases. The Salcedo municipal government enforces local ordinances on waste, noise, and business operations. Police and the military may support operations against illegal extraction or logging.
Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources. Provincial office for Hermanas Mirabal handles permits, inspections, and citizen complaints.
National Institute of Hydraulic Resources. Processes water use permits and manages hydraulic works and watersheds.
Ministry of Energy and Mines and the General Directorate of Mining. Issues mining concessions and oversees mineral activities with environmental coordination.
Dominican Council for Fisheries and Aquaculture. Regulates inland and marine fisheries and aquaculture operations.
Environmental Prosecutor of the Public Ministry. Receives environmental crime reports and pursues criminal cases.
Municipal Government of Salcedo. Issues local permits for construction and commerce, enforces municipal ordinances on waste, noise, and burning.
Provincial Governor Office of Hermanas Mirabal. Coordinates interagency actions and citizen services for provincial matters.
Agricultural and producer associations in the Cibao region. Provide technical guidance and can coordinate collective compliance efforts for farms and cooperatives.
Define your project or issue clearly, including location, size, processes, expected emissions or discharges, and proximity to rivers, forests, communities, or protected areas. Gather key documents such as land titles or possession evidence, site maps and coordinates, water use data, existing permits, and any technical studies or designs. Request an environmental classification with the Ministry of Environment to know whether you need an environmental license, permit, or authorization, and what studies are required. If water use is involved, prepare to apply for a concession or permit with the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources, including hydrological support and design details. Consult the Salcedo municipal government about local permits and ordinances that may apply to construction, noise, waste, and business operation. Engage a lawyer experienced in Dominican natural resources law to prepare filings, coordinate with engineers and biologists for required studies, and manage deadlines, consultations, and negotiations with authorities. If you face an inspection or enforcement action, do not ignore notices. Seek legal advice immediately to preserve defenses, meet corrective timelines, and evaluate administrative appeals. Build compliance into your operations by implementing the environmental management plan, training staff, keeping monitoring records, and auditing suppliers. Laws and procedures evolve, so verify current requirements with the relevant agencies or counsel before making commitments.
