Building Standards

On a multi-hazard island, seismic risk quietly sets the terms of home insurance and the standards to which houses should be built. Here is how it works, and why it matters to owners.

Jamaica recorded 549 seismic events in 2025. Most went unfelt, but the figure is a reminder that the island builds, buys and insures on shaking ground.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, the public conversation has centred on an understandably sensitive issue: should Jamaicans pay more…

When a hurricane passes, it leaves behind more than debris. It leaves behind exposure. Exposure of drainage systems that were…

Kingston, Jamaica — Tuesday 10 February 2026 A magnitude 5.5 earthquake was recorded early Tuesday morning approximately 132 kilometres northeast…

Roads caved in. Zinc roofs twisted into the shape of regret. Schools locked their gates not for summer, but for…

On this island, where the mountains run down into the sea and the breeze can change on you just like…

By Dean Jones — Founder, Jamaica Homes When asked recently whether people would still be interested in buying homes in…

Section 1: Introduction Housing is a fundamental need that forms the bedrock of individual and community well-being. For many Jamaicans,…