MMR issued a guide for officials on how to approve constructions in the new system

Prague - The Ministry for Regional Development (MMR) has published a new manual for officials on how to handle the building approval process in the new digital building permit system. The new methodology outlines the correct procedure in cases where the builder submits an application in paper form, as well as sets the conditions under which documentation of the construction does not need to be attached. The ministry informed about this on its website today. Officials have complained about the digitalization since its implementation on July 1. An incomplete manual on how to use the system has been cited by some as one of the complications.

According to MMR, the guide describes the process from the initiation of the building approval procedure to the final inspection and issuance of the decision. The reason for creating the new manual, according to Deputy Prime Minister for Digitalization and Minister for Regional Development Ivan Bartoš (Pirates), was that officials requested a more detailed procedure for handling approvals during training sessions. He wrote on the social network X today that building approval under the new construction law and in the new information system is a 'big topic'. At a meeting of the Senate Committee for Regional Development, Public Administration, and the Environment on Wednesday, he stated that detailing the procedure for processing approvals in the system is one of his priorities.

On Wednesday, MMR also updated the systems of the digital building permit process. The system now allows information about property owners to be retrieved from the land register and when entering the location of the building, the help function will offer pre-filling of districts. Additionally, users can view the sent document in the form in which it was sent to the recipient, or it is possible to resend the document to individual participants in case of the first delivery failure.

However, according to some building offices contacted by ČTK, the system is still not functional despite the adjustments, and working in it is tedious. Some officials do not believe that the system will be fully functional by the end of August and are worried about employee turnover. Besides the building office staff, some senators have also negatively commented on the current state of the systems. Some coalition politicians have called on Bartoš to ensure that the building permit systems are operational by the end of August. After the government holidays, the minister plans to meet with members of the government to inform them about the further schedule.