Translated using ChatGPT service.
Changes to construction regulations that took effect on July 1, 2025, will continue to reduce bureaucracy and improve efficiency in the construction sector — the overall volume of documents and the number of actions required in the Construction Information System (BIS) will decrease, which will speed up the handover process of construction works in the future.
These changes are related to amendments in the Cabinet of Ministers Regulation No. 500 "General Construction Regulations" and special construction regulations, which significantly affect the work of both construction process participants and supervising institutions.
“These changes will substantially reduce the need to prepare documents repeatedly, thereby cutting down bureaucratic procedures. Costs will decrease because the approval and decision-making processes will be more predictable and faster,” says the Minister of Economics, Viktors Valainis.
“The control functions of building authorities and the Construction Quality Control Bureau (BVKB) will improve — the number of inspections focusing only on the formality of documents, rather than their substance, will decrease. At the same time, more attention can be paid to construction sites with higher risk levels for monitoring the work performed,” emphasizes Māris Demme, Director of the Construction Control Department and Deputy Director of BVKB.
The amendments simplify and reduce some of the construction work documentation. Previously, participants in the construction process had to prepare separate acceptance acts for covered works (works that are followed by others covering them, e.g., reinforcement installation in foundations, installation of underfloor heating or water pipes in walls) and for significant structural works (structures whose quality control or safety cannot be checked without dismantling). From July 1, 2025, this requirement is canceled. From now on, acceptance acts for the performed construction works related to load-bearing structures and additional acts agreed upon by the construction initiator and the main contractor will suffice. This means that instead of many different acts, only one act accepting the performed works will be required, reducing the number of documents to be prepared.
Additionally, in connection with these changes, BVKB has developed new functionality in BIS for daily coordination tasks by construction supervisors, which will speed up the approval process for both supervisors and contractors. Practically, the construction supervisor will indicate in the supervision plan which additional daily works on the construction site they plan to control and will approve them directly in the BIS construction work journal without additional acts or procedures.
To avoid delays related to the approval of works recorded in the construction work journal by supervisors, the regulatory amendments introduce a "silence is consent" principle, which will also be technically implemented in BIS. From now on, a five working day term is set for receiving approval from the supervisor. If no approval or objections are received within this period, BIS will automatically mark the approval as given.
Speaking about the practical benefits of these changes, Māris Demme points out that this will speed up the construction process while ensuring quality control and traceability of works.
The mentioned improvements that come into effect from July 1, 2025, also provide for a transitional period. Construction works started before June 30, 2025, may continue to be documented using the forms valid at the time the works began. From July 1, if all involved parties agree, the new documentation procedures can be applied even for works started earlier. Works started on or after July 1, 2025, must be documented following the new, simplified procedures.
Māris Demme explains that these changes will affect a wide range of construction process participants — overall, several tens of thousands of people, including employees of construction companies (supervisors, authors’ supervisors, construction managers, etc.), as well as private individuals and legal entities.
It should be noted that these changes and innovations would not be possible without the continuous development and improvement of BIS. The automation possibilities provided by BVKB through BIS form the basis for moving toward a more efficient, transparent, and modern construction regulation system in Latvia.
Construction industry professionals are encouraged to visit the BIS website to stay informed about the latest industry news and updates. They are also urged to regularly monitor changes in construction sector legislation.