Governor reports faster construction permits; the registers show 1,386 consolidated construction permits approved islandwide in the past 12 months

The governor also told the builders' convention that the average adjudication of a Single Permit dropped from 91 to 12 days, the outlet reported, and that processing of environmental recommendations fell from 167 to 70 days.

What the permit registers hold

The government permit registers that RED Atlas tracks record 1,386 consolidated construction permits approved across Puerto Rico in the 12 months to October 18, 2026, of which 136 are in San Juan. Over the same 12 months the registers show 19,206 single permits approved islandwide (3,488 in San Juan), 6,077 environmental determinations by categorical exclusion (627 in San Juan) and 2,567 infrastructure recommendation requests approved (299 in San Juan).

Of the consolidated construction permit cases dated in 2026, 1,377 are approved, 1,136 are under inspection, 1,887 are marked incomplete, 433 are in rectification, 310 have been archived and 9 were denied. The registers record the date of each decision, not the date of filing, so they do not give a processing time of their own.

A new code before lawmakers

At the convention, the governor urged passage of a new Planning and Permits Code, the outlet reported. The proposed code includes an accelerated procedure for high-impact projects, among them social-interest housing, and the governor said it should clarify jurisdictions, standardize criteria and set accountability mechanisms.

More than 60 organizations, joined by planners and citizens, asked the presidents of the Senate and the House to make the draft of the substitute bill public and to hold new public hearings, according to the outlet. They argue the draft has been shared with some private trade groups but not with communities, environmental organizations or planners.