Property Law

Management of Lands is governed and regulated by civil acts including:

• The State Lands Act and State Lands Regulations chapter 53:01, 1990 revised.
• The Alien Land Holding Licence Regulation Act, Number 17 of 1995.
• The Title by Registration Act, Chapter 56:50, 1991
• The Physical Planning Act, 2002

The Purchase of State Land by Non Citizens

A purchase transaction by non-citizens will follow the same process described above for Dominican citizens. However, prior to proceeding on this process, individuals or corporate bodies who are not citizens of one of the member states and who are seeking to acquire land may require a licence prior to the execution of the transaction depending on the amount of land to be purchased.

The Alien Land Holding License Regulation Act, No. 17 of 1995 of the Laws of the Commonwealth of Dominica, provides for the issuance of Alien Land Holding License.

• An alien purchasing less than one (1) acre of land for residential purposes or less than three (3) acres of land for commercial do not require a licence. However, the alien landholding licence fee of 10% of the value of the land must be paid.
• An alien may not hold more than one (1) acre of land for residential purposes or three (3) acres of land for commercial purposes without first holding a licence. On acquiring a licence, the applicant must pay a fee equivalent to 10% of the market value of the land to government.
• In the case of the acquisition of land for commercial purposes, the Minister must publish in the Gazette areas in Dominica in which an alien may not acquire land without obtaining a licence under the Act.