PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – In a landmark move to address mounting seismic vulnerabilities and climate change impacts, Haitian authorities have officially validated a comprehensive revision of the National Building Code (CNBH). The December 19, 2025 ceremony, spearheaded by the Ministry of Public Works in partnership with the Ministry of the Interior and Territorial Communities, marks Haiti’s most significant building safety overhaul in twelve years.
This critical update emerges as an essential technical safeguard against informal construction practices that have historically heightened population risks across both urban and rural landscapes. Developed through an extensive participatory process, the CNBH 2025 represents the culmination of synergistic efforts between the National Steering Committee and distinguished technical experts.
The revised code introduces substantial advancements, particularly through its rigorous integration of seismic and cyclonic parameters while adapting technical specifications to accommodate locally available construction materials. A pioneering innovation involves the code’s expanded jurisdiction, which now encompasses standard buildings and traditional rural constructions—including timber-framed structures with stone infill—ensuring comprehensive safety coverage across all territorial divisions.
Transcending mere technical specifications, the CNBH 2025 serves as a unifying framework aligned with International Code Council standards. Ministry officials emphasize that the code constitutes not just a regulatory document but an enforceable common reference for all construction stakeholders. The implementation responsibility now falls to engineers, architects, craftspeople, and local authorities, whose adherence will determine the success of sustainable reconstruction efforts aimed at protecting both lives and investments for current and future generations.
This achievement was made possible through robust national and international cooperation. The Ministry of Public Works extended particular gratitude to the Coalition for Disaster-Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) for crucial support, alongside decisive technical assistance from Build Change, CRAterre, and the ICC. Academic institutions, technical experts, and civil society organizations were also acknowledged for their contributions in providing Haiti with a modern, sovereign technical governance instrument.