The Chamber approved simpler building permits

Prague - The Chamber of Deputies today approved in the final reading a major government amendment to the building law, which aims, among other things, to simplify the process of granting building permits. According to the Minister for Regional Development Kamil Jankovský, the amendment will strengthen the principle of "one building, one office, one decision". On the other hand, the amendment increases some fees related to the granting of building permits. It is now heading for consideration in the Senate.
    The proposal, for instance, expands the list of cases where a planning decision or planning consent is not required. It also clarifies the procedure for conducting simplified planning procedures. At the same time, it significantly shortens some deadlines in urban planning and modifies the conditions under which the public can participate in administrative proceedings.
    However, the amendment increases some fees. For a building permit for a residential building with a maximum of three apartments, builders will now pay 5000 crowns instead of the previous 300 crowns. For the construction of a garage with a maximum of three parking spaces, they will pay a thousand crowns instead of 300 crowns.
    The proposal further allows individuals to comment on draft urban plans at a stage of the administrative process where this has not been possible so far. This change is also intended to strengthen the position of landowners affected by the urban plan.
    Deputies incorporated a proposal from the parliamentary committee to postpone the deadline by which municipalities must have their urban plans from 2015 to 2020. It will allow municipalities to build certain structures by 2020 even without an urban plan.
    Conversely, the Chamber did not approve a proposal from the Economic Committee, which was criticized by environmental activists. Civil associations that are participants in administrative proceedings under the Nature and Landscape Protection Act would, according to this proposal, only be able to raise objections related to nature and landscape protection. If associations were to appeal for a different reason, the office would have to reject it by law.
    A proposal from the deputies did not succeed either, according to which land excluded from the agricultural land fund for the construction of transport buildings and energy distribution networks would not have to pay the legally required contributions.