Kingstown St. Vincent May 12, 2026-Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Physical Planning Nigel Stephenson has urged Vincentians to follow the country’s building regulations and obtain approved plans before starting construction projects, warning that unauthorised building remains a growing concern.
Speaking on NBC Radio’s Face to Face programme, the minister said many people continued to build homes without approved plans, often because of financial difficulties and limited access to professional services.
“Our people have developed a sense of lawlessness over the years as it relates to building,” he said.
Stephenson acknowledged that many families struggled to afford construction costs and frequently relied on friends and informal labour to build homes gradually over time.
“A lot of people just don’t have the means to build a house,” he said.
“A lot of them build without having a plan, so just build as you go along.”
However, the minister warned that constructing buildings without approved plans is against the law and could result in enforcement action from the Physical Planning Department.
He explained that inspectors could issue enforcement orders requiring construction to stop if builders failed to produce approved plans.
“If you don’t cease construction, then it tells you what can happen as a penalty,” he said.
Stephenson also outlined some of the guidelines typically applied to residential construction, including setback requirements from roads and neighbouring properties.
According to the minister, buildings should generally be constructed about 20 feet away from the main road, although some flexibility may be allowed depending on circumstances.
He added that structures should also maintain distance from neighbouring boundaries.
The minister said he regularly received requests from people seeking assistance after encountering problems with planning authorities but stressed that he would not support projects that ignored legal requirements.
“Physical planning falls under my portfolio, and it would be undermining my own ministry if I’m going to tell you to go ahead with a particular project knowing that you don’t have the requisite plan,” he said.
Stephenson encouraged residents to work with professionals and engage with the Physical Planning Department early in the process to avoid disputes or delays.