Parliament has definitively approved a new construction law aimed at professionalizing the state construction administration, reducing administrative burdens on businesses, and simplifying the building process, particularly for family homes and small apartment buildings. The law also addresses issues such as illegal constructions and the low level of discipline in the construction industry. The law will take effect in April this year. A total of 80 MPs voted in favor, while none voted against, and 58 abstained.
The proposed construction law clarifies various administrative procedures, the rights and obligations of participants in construction, and the decisions made by building authorities. It replaces previous procedures, particularly the two-stage administrative process for evaluating construction plans, thus simplifying and shortening the approval process. According to the Ministry of Transport, this change aims to avoid redundant evaluations of construction plans, streamlining the approval of projects.
Under the new law, local municipalities will still oversee construction permits, but they may establish building districts similar to the current joint municipal offices. The law also addresses the protection of art in buildings and public spaces to prevent damage or destruction during construction, in accordance with European conventions.
Additionally, the new law introduces measures for dealing with illegal buildings. A provision allows for additional procedures to regularize unauthorized constructions built before the law's enactment, either legalizing or removing them. This aims to prevent these structures from being permanently labeled as unauthorized but still safely used.
The law also refines penalties and administrative offenses, expanding the list of individuals subject to sanctions, including construction contractors and project supervisors. The Ministry of Transport clarified that in cases of construction projects, the responsibility for violations should lie with the contractor, not the client.
Opposition parties rejected the new law, arguing that it undermines public and professional interests and pointing out that several related changes—such as transaction taxes and tax bonuses—are embedded in the new law and should have been more thoroughly debated. The opposition also criticized the rushed legislative process, claiming it does not allow sufficient time for public feedback on the proposals.
The new construction law will come into force on April 1, 2025.
Source: TASR
