Prague, Brno, and Ostrava will be able to have their own building regulations

Prague - The Ministry for Regional Development (MMR) will incorporate the possibility for Prague, Brno, and Ostrava to issue their own building regulations into the amendment to the building law. In the future, other cities may also receive this opportunity, spokesman for MMR Vilém Frček announced today to ČTK. The new building law, which government parties want to significantly amend in the Chamber of Deputies, was sent on Thursday for further discussion. The government expects the law to accelerate and simplify the building process, but the current proposal faces criticism from the Chamber of Commerce and local governments.

Minister for Regional Development Klára Dostálová (for ANO) today discussed the new law with Ostrava Mayor Tomáš Macura and his deputy Zuzana Bajgarová (both ANO). "Based on the arguments from Mayor Macura, I agreed to special building regulations for metropolitan cities. These are the three largest metropolises," said Dostálová. According to her, it will be beneficial for the ministry to observe how the creation of specific building regulations develops in metropolitan cities.

The introduction of city building regulations in Prague, Brno, and Ostrava will serve as pilot testing according to the MMR. "If the special building regulations prove successful, the ministry is willing to expand them to other cities," the office stated. At the same time, it emphasized that it is necessary to avoid making the system confusing for investors, the ministry, and cities.

Representatives from Ostrava, during the meeting with Dostálová, supported the complete separation of the building permitting process from municipalities, that is, the model of pure state building administration according to the MMR. "We believe that the permitting of buildings is merely a technical matter that may be the responsibility of the state, provided that the main role of municipalities in the territorial planning process is established and guaranteed. However, active involvement of municipalities is essential even in the permitting process," Bajgarová stated. According to her, the municipality must step beyond the role of a mere participant in the proceedings.

According to Dostálová, discussions will continue regarding the location of the Supreme Building Authority in Ostrava, which the city desires. "In the future, we expect that the Regional Court in Ostrava will carry out a specialized agenda related to reserved buildings, so it makes a certain sense," the minister added.

The re-codification of building law is included in the government's program declaration, and the law has been in preparation for a longer time. According to local governments, the current proposal restricts their powers and planning possibilities; cities were particularly displeased that the law prohibits them from creating their own building regulations. The draft will now be reviewed by committees in the Chamber of Deputies, and it is expected to return for a second reading no earlier than the end of February.