The Chamber will discuss a law that aims to bridge the difficulties with the building regulations

Prague – On Wednesday evening, MPs will discuss an amendment to the building law aimed at helping to bridge the current difficulties associated with the digitalization of the building process. If Parliament approves the new regulation, builders will submit project documentation in digital form, and building authorities will be able to use their existing systems, which they used until July 1 of this year. Builders and officials have faced problems with the digitalized building process systems since their launch on that date. The situation culminated in the resignation of the Minister for Regional Development Ivan Bartoš (Pirates) and his party's exit from the government.

The amendment to the building law was proposed by a group of MPs across political parties, led by Minister of Transport Martin Kupka (ODS). Originally, it was also signed by Pirate representative Jakub Michálek, who later withdrew his signature. MPs should approve it in an expedited first reading. If that happens, it should be sent to the Senate for discussion without unnecessary delay. The law is set to take effect the day after its announcement.

In October, the government decided to issue a new contract for the digital building process system. Simultaneously, it also allowed the temporary use of the original systems alongside those launched this summer.

"The purpose of the (proposed legal adjustment) is really, retroactively effective from July 1, to remedy the dysfunctionality of that technological tool and to allow authorities to proceed further with appropriate legal certainty, to use their old tools, which is practically what has been happening and continues to happen, and to gradually utilize the latest functionalities as they see fit," Minister Kupka described to ČTK.

However, according to him, the amendment also maintains the mandatory step of submitting project documentation in digital form. If a builder wants to construct, they must submit it digitally.

Kupka noted that the building law already allows, in some cases, to proceed in the standard way without the need to upload documentation to the system. This applies, for example, to small extensions or modifications to a house.

According to Kupka, the Senate discussion could take place on November 21. Before that, he wants to hold a debate to demonstrate how prepared the systems are for the change. If the system does not function perfectly, he has an alternative ready in case the Senate returns the proposal to the Chamber.

Concerns about the proposed amendment were expressed in mid-October by the Czech Chamber of Authorized Engineers Active in Construction (ČKAIT). According to the chamber, the proposal only addresses the problems of building authorities, not those of builders. The chamber had previously requested that builders not be required to upload project documentation to the central registry via the portal.