The governing ANO movement, which is asking the Chamber of Deputies for a vote of confidence these very days, promises that the first bills submitted this year will include a complete overhaul of construction legislation. With minor changes, it should resuscitate the original 2021 bill, which was recognised four years ago in the expert poll Law of the Year.
What are the key proposed changes?
Let us briefly outline the principles underpinning the amendment, prepared in close cooperation with the Czech Chamber of Commerce.
- One stamp: By far the most important change is that, once builders submit all the required documents, they will wait for a single stamp – and can start building immediately after obtaining it. Binding opinions of the authorities concerned will be consolidated into a single, coordinated statement.
- One office: The building authority will present itself as a single body and communicate with the builder on behalf of the authorities concerned. Spatial planning should be considerably simplified with the creation of the Territorial Development Office (formerly DESÚ), which will ensure that planning is not subject to varying (and often outright flawed) interpretations of the very same legislation.
- One year: And the best for last – the state should impose a rod on its own back in the form of a binding deadline by which it must process all documentation and issue the building permit. For small builders and large developers alike, this would above all mean better planning of deliveries and of the actual construction start date.
Many experienced builders rate the planning and permitting phase as considerably more demanding than the physical construction of the property itself
Better communication and approval process
The 2021 bill contained many more important changes, however – for example, classifying development projects of at least 10,000 square metres as designated structures with a fast-tracked process. That should help not only with easier construction of infrastructure projects, but also with a faster resolution of the housing crisis in Czechia. The plan is for communication with the authority to run through the much-debated Builder's Portal, or rather the Building Administration Portal, to use its actual name. Because of this, it will be necessary to extend the so-called bypass of the digitalisation of building proceedings. Changes are also planned to the conditions for final building approval, which can newly be replaced by an assessment from a private certified inspector. The state would thus lose its “monopoly” on this official act confirming that a building is genuinely ready for its intended use. If all goes according to plan and the Chamber of Deputies approves it, the amendment should take effect on 1 January 2027. As early as July this year, a brand-new National Geoportal for Spatial Planning should be launched. Do you own a portfolio of investment properties and are looking for a reliable partner to take all the administrative worries off your hands? Then we are here for you. Contact us on +420 277 000 330 or at sales@flatservice.cz to learn more about the FLAT SERVICE Partner and Garant services.
