Municipalities and builders are calling for a return to the use of original systems of building regulation

Prague – Associations representing municipalities and builders demand a return to the use of original building regulation systems. They claim that the new systems are still non-functional and cannot guarantee that officials can work in accordance with the law. They want to find a legislative solution to utilize the original systems in accordance with the new building law. Their representatives stated this today at a press conference in Prague. The Ministry for Regional Development (MMR) has previously rejected a return to the original systems. Some experts also point to the lengthy legislative process such a step would entail.

"It is not possible for us to modify the system in a way that is akin to 'patching a swallows' nest'; it is necessary to approach a solution that will be radical. And which will not take months, as the ministry expects, but will ideally take place in a matter of days," stated František Lukl, the chairman of the Union of Towns and Municipalities, today. He believes that the MMR should negotiate with suppliers of the original system regarding a possible transition, not the associations and unions.

According to Jan Holický, chairman of the Association of Secretaries of City and Municipal Offices, the Information System for Building Regulation is so non-functional that some things cannot be completed within it. He stated that the ability to identify foreign individuals is still not functioning, and it is not possible to access files other than through the device on which the official is logged in. "The system shows a whole range of obscurities," Holický noted.

Today, MMR announced that it has again updated features in the builder's portal. For example, it has added several elements to automatically fill out parts of applications. From now on, applicants will also be able to enter a person authorized to act on behalf of a physical business entity. At the same time, the data upload limit for documentation has been increased.

On Tuesday, the Minister for Regional Development Ivan Bartoš (Pirates) is set to meet with representatives of city districts, builders, and designers to present modifications and changes in the systems. Bartoš previously promised them that basic functionalities would be added to the systems by the end of August. He has faced criticism from both coalition and opposition politicians regarding the current state of digitalization. Some have called for his resignation; however, Bartoš has stated that he does not plan to step down from his position as Minister for Regional Development. He believes that it would not solve the problem and would consider it an escape from unfinished work.

According to Jiří Nouza, president of the Union of Entrepreneurs in Construction, the problems are not only caused by the poorly functioning builder's portal and the Information System for Building Regulation but also by the non-functional National Geoportal for Spatial Planning. He mentioned that investors cannot currently fulfill the obligation to enter implementation contracts with the relevant municipalities into the geoportal. Therefore, the legally required procedures cannot be fulfilled, leading to legal uncertainty.

Zdeněk Zajíček, president of the Czech Chamber of Commerce, added that the form of the new building law and the parameters of the digitized building regulation process had majority support in the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate during discussions in 2019. Therefore, the legislative change proposed by the unions could also have political support, according to him.