KSAMC Rolling Out New Building Inspection and Permit Application Process

The Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) is rolling out a new building inspection and permit process to improve its procedures for development. 

“We will be digitally bold like the Americans, rigorous like the Japanese, and energy-efficient like the Germans. I am proud to announce to the public that you can now review building-permit applications and approvals online at the KSAMC’s website. This is a pioneer moment for local authorities. You can view the stages of consideration of the application, make and view objections, view stages of approval, and much more. This is a departure from what obtained in the past,” Mayor of Kingston, Senator Councillor Delroy Williams, said. 

The website can be accessed at www.ksamc.gov.jm. 

The Mayor explained that residents were previously only aware of developments by the posting of notices at construction sites or after approvals were done.  

“So, prior to this, residents, most residents I would say, would not be aware of construction developments that are taking place in their communities.  

Right now, what we do [is], as soon as an application is made, we post the application on our website and we allow for residents to search. You can search by community, by district, by street, so you are aware of the applications that [have been processed] or are in the processing stage at the Municipality. So, you’re able to check, do your checks, raise your concerns or objections, and those concerns or objections must be presented to the Building Committee in its consideration of the application,” he said, during his contribution to the 2023/24 State of the Nation Debate in the Senate on Friday (January 26).  

Senator Williams informed that building officers cannot place an application before the Building Committee without all the objections raised being furnished.  

He explained that the Building Committee comprises members from a wide range of agencies, ministries and civil society.  

“So, what we’re saying is that, because of this, we’re building a more transparent system in the building approval process. We are moving the building inspection process to the next level,” the Mayor said. 

Senator Williams further noted that the Municipality is also moving to increase its complement of inspectors, adding that currently there are only five inspectors on staff, “[We received] 4,500 building applications between 2019 and 2023. On average that is approximately 900 applications per year. With five inspectors, I must, therefore, state that the Municipality is staffed well beneath the prescribed number of technical experts. 

“We have been working with the Ministry of Local Government [and Community Development] to restructure the Municipality and, more specifically, to increase the number of building and planning officers. We are advanced in this process, and pretty soon we will see a noticeable increase in the staffing of both departments,” he said.  

Senator Williams pointed out that building out the complement of inspectors is to ensure that no one officer will review a development at all of its stages. 

“This will further reduce the perception of corruption, thus protecting the reputation of those hard-working public servants who put out their all every single day of the week,” he said. 

Meanwhile, Senator Williams advised that the KSAMC is taking steps to rectify any underlying systemic deficiencies at the Municipality in light of the Integrity Commission report dated September 2023. 

The report has sought to review the Corporation’s processes in respect of the granting of building and planning permits and the monitoring of post-permit construction at 11 Charlemont Drive, Kingston 6.