Construction law is heading to the finish line, lawmakers added dozens of amendments

PRAGUE - The government proposal for a new building law is nearing its final stages in the Chamber of Deputies. The law is expected to significantly reduce bureaucracy. It considers, for example, that builders may be able to construct family houses up to 150 square meters and three stories based only on a notification. Paperwork will also be reduced for other small constructions such as garages or apartment renovations. Today, MPs submitted dozens of additional amendments to the proposal. A final vote in the Chamber could take place as early as Friday, December 16.
The ODS (Civic Democratic Party) has reservations about the proposal. For instance, MP Pavel Hrnčíř claims that the law expands the scope for expropriation, restricts municipal councils, and distances public administration from citizens. He also states that the proposal does not shorten deadlines, does not simplify bureaucracy, and will lead to a high increase in civil servants. "The new building law contains malice, as it will take effect from January 1, 2007, when this government will definitely no longer be in power, and citizens will experience these negative consequences and empty promises only later," he said.
Changes regarding building permits are just a small part of the amendments the government proposes for the building law. The cabinet hopes that the proposal will support regional development and housing construction. Builders argue that the submitted draft law is revolutionary compared to the current legal state. Currently, the preparation of construction, including permits, often takes longer than the actual realization. Builders regard the main benefit of the new law as the reduction of bureaucracy, which will simplify the preparation and execution of constructions.
According to the Ministry for Regional Development, the new building law should establish rules for construction for at least as long as the current building law. This means at least for another 20 to 30 years. Until now, builders have had to adapt to bureaucracy with rules from the 1960s. The building process, which consists of several administrative steps, has dragged on for months.
"Speeding up construction would mean an easier life for investors and construction firms," spokesperson for Metrostav, František Polák, previously told ČTK. The amendment indeed accounts for a significant reduction in bureaucracy associated with the preparation of large constructions. For example, the construction of the Mrázovka tunnel in Prague was delayed by three years due to numerous appeals. The new law should eliminate similar issues.

What the new building law is supposed to bring:

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- preparation of constructions will be simplified and accelerated
- overlapping of legal norms will be removed
- procedures for spatial planning and management will be simplified and shortened
- control over the execution of constructions will be more intense, which should allow for their immediate use
- selected constructions may be initiated only with notification; these include family houses up to 150 square meters and three stories. If the authority does not request the investor to provide additional documents within 30 days, they may begin construction.
- it should support the development of regions and municipalities
- it aims to help the expansion of housing construction and tourism
- the new legislation aims to facilitate cooperation between the public and private sectors
- the placement of constructions and established routes should become indisputable in future stages of realization after the approval of a spatial plan
- newly authorized inspectors will be created to permit minor constructions
- the share of cost reimbursement for spatial planning documentation between the state budget and local government budgets will change - municipalities should save about a third of their expenses, around 94 million CZK annually
- the law is expected to take effect from January 1, 2007, for another 20 to 30 years