Šlechtová will start preparing the draft framework of the building law

photo: FCB Karla Šlechtová

Prague - One application will be enough for building permits, and the complicated rules that builders currently have to comply with will be unified. This should be brought about by a new building law, on which the Minister for Regional Development, Karla Šlechtová (for ANO), will begin working on the substantive draft. The government today acknowledged the principles of the law, which will have to be accompanied by changes to the competency law and about 150 other regulations.

According to the material available to ČTK, it is necessary to resolve issues such as the protection of public interests, the activities of relevant authorities, or the electronicization of public administration. The possibility of obstruction by various organizations is also a problem. The ministry estimates that the preparation of the regulation will take more than one electoral term.

According to the Ministry for Regional Development (MMR), the problem is that state administration in the area of building law is exercised by self-governing bodies in delegated authority. This can lead to situations where the interests of self-governments and public interests are not aligned. "Separating the execution would minimize the risk of so-called systemic bias, which has been occurring very frequently lately," the report states.

A related problem, according to MMR, is the large number of municipalities. There are approximately 6,250 in the Czech Republic, most of which have fewer than 500 inhabitants. All municipalities, however, can create their own zoning plans. "This does not mean that municipalities would cease to exist or necessarily merge. However, the process of sharing offices, development plans, transportation solutions, and much more should be promptly initiated," Šlechtová had previously stated.

According to MMR, it will also be necessary to reduce the number of authorities that respond to building permit applications. For example, with the last amendment to the building law, which is expected to take effect at the beginning of next year, it was necessary to simultaneously change more than 40 other laws. In addition to municipal and regional authorities, the police, the Czech Telecommunications Office, or the Customs Office, seven ministries are involved in building approvals. Šlechtová considers this situation to be untenable.

A fundamental problem, according to MMR, is the lack of funds for decision-making implementation, salaries of officials, or technical equipment of building and planning offices.

In relation to the public, the new law should preserve all rights to information about discussed documents and their changes. "However, it is essential to maximize the reduction of the possibility of repeated comments and objections to already decided matters and especially the possibility of repeated initiatives for reviews and subsequent obstructions," MMR states. The ministry also plans to initiate an intensive discussion about the form of new legal regulations on expropriation.