The Panama Municipal Council approved Agreement 316 on October 13, 2026, adopting the Urban Design Guide for Public Space (GDU-EP) for the capital district. The mayor signed it on October 22, and the text was published in Official Gazette No. 30646 of October 30, 2026; under its article 67, it takes effect upon promulgation.

Its article 5 declares the guide an urban development standard, binding on the Administration and on private parties, and article 7 requires every subdivision, development, building or intervention in public space to comply with it. Article 16 gives sixty (60) calendar days for priority upgrades, including providing the minimum sidewalk, demolishing elements that block passage and avoiding slippery finishes. Article 17 grants six (6) months for adjustments such as setting driveway gates 2 meters back from the property line and placing trash enclosures inside the lot; article 18 sets two (2) years to remove steps and level changes on sidewalks. Article 21 establishes a continuous clear width of 1.80 meters, with an exceptional minimum of 1.50 meters.

The effect reaches owners of homes, shops and buildings, developers and utility companies, which under article 19 must relocate infrastructure that obstructs sidewalks. Article 52 adds a fine of B/.5,000 for failing to meet the adaptation obligations, and article 61 exempts public space adaptation works from the construction permit fee. For builders and civil works contractors, demand for sidewalk work could rise in the coming months; for developers, the design of vehicle access and parking would have to be reviewed from the plans stage.

Implementation depends on several administrative steps. Article 53 allows new and pending applications to follow the previous guidelines for six months, except for priority upgrades, and article 54 gives two months to bring the Urban Planning Directorate into plan review. Article 48 allows owners on the same block to jointly propose changes to the street profile; article 49 provides a one-year extension in that case, subject to a mayoral decree that is still pending.

Nexo Capital will follow the regulations implementing Agreement 316 and compliance with its first deadlines.

Research assisted by Sentinel, with editorial verification of official sources. Discover Legislat.ai