What is CZM?

CZM is the affectionate name for the Virgin Islands Coastal Zone Management Program. In 1978, the Virgin Islands Legislature enacted the Virgin Islands Coastal Zone Management Act in recognition of the need to protect our marine resources by providing "adequate environmental safeguards" for shore development.

What does CZM Regulate?

CZM regulates all development within in first tier of the Virgin Islands coastal zone. The first tier comprises of a relatively narrow strip along the coast, excluding all federal land, and all off-shore islands and cays.

What is a CZM Permit?

A CZM Permit is permission granted from either the Commissioner of the Department of Planning and Natural Resources or a Committee of the Virgin Islands Coastal Zone Commission to undertake development within the first tier of the Virgin Islands Coastal Zone.

When do I need a CZM Permit for activities at an existing structure within the first tier of the Coastal Zone?

If your structure was permitted under a CZM permit, you may not need a CZM permit for any building activities. However, you need to contact the Division of Coastal Zone Management before undertaking any work on the structure. And, if the structure was not permitted, you need a CZM permit regardless of the activity undertaken.

How can I obtain a CZM permit?

The  Virgin Islands Coastal Zone Management Program divides the permit system into two categories: Major and Minor. A Major permit is required for all land projects, which must be substantially landward of the line of mean high tides and all water projects which take place substantially seaward of the line of mean tides.

A minor permit is required for:

	a subdivision or the construction of one or two single-family residences or a duplex; or
	improvements to an existing structure costing less than $52,000; or
	one or more structures valued in their entirety less than $75,000; or
	any other development, except the extraction of minerals, valued at less than $66,000; or
	the extraction of minerals valued at less than $17,000.

The Commissioner may require that a minor permit be considered as a major permit if significant adverse environmental consequences are anticipated.

All persons interested in obtaining a CZM permit are urged to contact the Division of Coastal Zone Management for a pre-application meeting prior to submitting an application for a CZM permit.

What hours are you open for filing?

Applications for Major CZM permits are accepted within the first five (5) working days of each month. Applications are Minor CZM permits, however, are accepted any time of the month.

Approximately how long does it take from the time that I submitted the permit application to me receiving the permit?

An application for a Minor CZM permit may be approved by the Commissioner within sixty (60) working days of submittal. And, an application for a Major CZM permit may be approved by the respective CZM Committee within eight (8) to ten (10) months of submittal.

Can I appeal the Committee's or the Commissioner's Decision?

Either the Committee's or the Commissioner's decision on a CZM permit may be appeal to the Board of Land Use Appeal within forty-five (45) days of such decision being rendered.

How can I obtain a copy of the CZM rules and regulations?

The rules and regulations will be posted on this site in the near future. For now, copies can be obtained from either the Lieutenant Governor's office, the Territorial Court library or the US District Court Library