Assessment of conditions for the digital modernization of the construction permit process in the Central District of Honduras

Abstract

The process for obtaining construction permits in the Central District of Honduras is characterized by institutional fragmentation, long response times, and high administrative costs, placing the municipality below regional performance benchmarks. This study analyzes the structural causes of inefficiency and proposes a framework for process optimization based on administrative modernization. A mixed-methods design was applied, combining document review, comparative analysis using World Bank indicators (Doing Business, 2020), semi-structured interviews with public officials, and surveys of system users. The findings reveal duplication of requirements, lack of technological interoperability, absence of process traceability, and low document standardization, which result in inefficiency, increased transaction costs, and operational discretion. Based on this evidence, a digital one-stop system is proposed, supported by principles of process reengineering, results-based public management, and inter-agency governance. This article presents the theoretical basis, diagnostic results, and methodology that support this proposal.