Revised Building Code Requires Buildings to Withstand Category Five Hurricanes

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Buildings in Jamaica will be required to withstand Category Five hurricane conditions under a revised Building Code that is set to be rolled out during the current financial year.

Local Government and Community Development Minister Desmond McKenzie said the updated code is a key part of the country’s reconstruction approach and will form the basis of stronger standards for the built environment.

He said the revised framework will include stronger enforcement powers for Municipal Corporations, mandatory compliance checks, and stricter penalties for illegal construction in high-risk zones.

McKenzie, speaking during the 2026/27 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives, said the enforcement capacity of local authorities will be strengthened following approval from the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service for a revised establishment structure for Municipal Corporations. This, he said, will allow for the recruitment of additional building officers.

The minister stressed that the reconstruction phase is not intended to simply restore what has been lost.

“It is to replace lost infrastructure with vastly modern, climate-smart and resilient structures that dramatically improve the lives of our citizens,” he said.

McKenzie added that there must be a clear understanding among elected representatives and the public that “it will not be business as usual”.

He also warned that long-standing “reckless and dangerous practices” in the built environment must be replaced with order as Jamaica moves to strengthen its construction standards.