Number of Construction Permits Submitted Digitally to Nicoya Muni Increases

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Every year, more users are avoiding lines in the municipality and completing paperwork through the internet, which is the case for construction permits.

Of 420 total construction permits processed in 2014, 52 were handled through the muncipality’s electronic platform, called Construction Project Administrator (APC – Administrador de Proyectos de Construccion).

This year, 400 requests have been submitted, and 95 of those have authorizations have been made through the digital system.

The Municipality began using APC in 2010, which includes types of projects such as small or large construction, condominiums, neighborhoods, billboards, earth movements and others like changes to plats or other additional requirements.

In 2015, the most frequent users of this application are people who live in Nosara, with 36 requests, and 90% of those submissions were to build luxury homes.

Jose Ruiz Guerrero, the engineer in charge of the Control of Construction and Public Works Department at the Municipality of Nicoya, explained that they have promoted the application so that architects from the area use it instead of travelling from Nosara to Nicoya.

“We have advertised among architects, especially those who live in Nosara, so that they use the platform, and they have realized the advantages there are in saving time and money,” he said.

Another time-saving aspect of the APC is that applicants do not have to turn in a copy of their plat to every institution involved with the process, but instead just the professional in charge of the project. That person uploads a digital file to the platform and receives a response from the institutions within at most 30 days.

With the implementation of the APC, Ruiz believes that more users will continue to take advantage of the initiative.  He also indicated that the Nicoya municipality will soon implement an online payment option, with which any applicant can make payment via an electronic transfer through the internet.

Fuente: Departamento de Control Constructivo y Obra Pública Municipalidad de Nicoya.

Source: Municipality of Nicoya, Control of Construction and Public Works Department.

*Data through September of 2015