Splitting house into apartments

| 11/06/2018

I’ve been told that a new neighbour wants to convert their house into three apartments. Do they need planning permission for this and do they need to ask permission from their other neighbours?


Ask Auntie, CNS Local Life, Caymanian statusAuntie’s answer: If your neighbour is planning on making the changes you describe, then, yes, he or she needs permission. An official with the Department of Planning explained the process for gaining such approval, confirming that planning permission is required for a change of use (in this case from single-family house to multi-family apartments).

In addition, as part of the application procedure for converting a house into anywhere from three to five apartments, it is required to serve notice via registered mail to the surrounding landowners within a 150ft radius. The notice can be sent by either the owner or their agent or architect. The neighbours then have 21 days to convey their objection to or support for the application.

For future reference, anyone who wants to register a complaint with planning can begin the process by emailing the department.

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Category: Ask Auntie, Planning Questions

Comments (8)

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  1. gh says:

    gosh let the people dem build without being bitchy neighbours

  2. Anonymous says:

    There is a place in Bodden Town that went from a single dwelling house to sixteen apartments when it was rebuilt after Ivan with funds from government. I’m told no permission was ever asked from either neighbors or the planning department. Full of Jamaicans now.

    • Anonymous says:

      I know the place you refer to. It’s for sale for $800,000 and is worth about a quarter of that. Low class accommodation and the owner no longer lives there. Little Kingston..

  3. Anonymous says:

    They also need a Trade and Business License.

  4. Anonymous says:

    Or you can do like our neighboor, make the change and two years later seek permission.

  5. Anonymous says:

    So 1-2 apartments is OK and no red tap needed?