The Ministry of Economics (EM) reports that as of November 1 this year, amendments to the Construction Law, the General Construction Regulations, and the Building Regulations have come into effect. The amendments aim to streamline the approval process for technical regulations and building projects, ensuring a faster and simpler construction process. From November 1, every individual planning construction will also be required to indicate the source of funding for the planned construction works in the Construction Information System (BIS).
The amendments to the Building Regulations stipulate that anyone planning to start construction must indicate the planned source of financing in BIS. This requirement was introduced because it has been observed that construction projects, including new buildings, are sometimes initiated by individuals who, according to data from the State Revenue Service, do not have sufficient legal income to carry out such works. To ensure the effective operation of risk assessment algorithms, the funding source must be identified—e.g., salary, business income, loan, or another source of income. Indicating the source does not require specifying exact amounts or providing additional information.
The proposal to indicate the funding source is included in the Plan for Combating the Shadow Economy. The requirement applies to construction projects subject to administrative procedures (construction permit, explanatory report, or construction notification) and does not apply to projects that do not require construction documentation.
Amendments to the Construction Law clarify that public involvement in the construction process is required only to ensure better integration of the building into its surroundings and to prevent possible adverse impacts on society. At this stage, issues that fall under territorial planning or environmental impact assessment processes are not discussed.
Regarding technical regulations (TR), the validity period is now set at two years. TRs must include only conditions directly related to the specific construction project, meaning that disproportionate investments in public infrastructure cannot be demanded.
If territorial planning changes occur, construction projects already initiated may still apply the previous planning regulations. This reduces the risk for developers that certain modifications, which would have been possible under the old plan—e.g., adjusting building volume while maintaining the approved number of parking spaces—cannot be implemented under the new plan.
The approval or acknowledgment of a third-party explanatory report or compliance with design requirements can now be contested within one month instead of a year, reducing waiting times for starting construction.
Considering the nature of unauthorized construction and its potential danger to both users and society, prevention of unauthorized construction can now be initiated by any co-owner, without requiring consent from all co-owners. Likewise, approval for placing a building into operation in shared ownership can now be initiated by a majority of co-owners (over 50%).
Amendments to the General Construction Regulations allow engineering works (e.g., pile testing, site preparation, earthworks, construction site setup, etc.) to begin during the fulfillment of design conditions, provided they do not affect third-party rights or consent has been obtained. This facilitates faster construction. Other changes include:
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For road and external utility works, approval of design changes can be postponed until the building is completed and handed over.
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TR issuance period shortened from 20 calendar days to 11 working days.
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Building project approval period shortened from 30 calendar days to 15 working days.
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TR clarification or adjustments will now be provided free of charge.
Amendments to the Building Regulations concerning prefabricated buildings also come into force on November 1. From now on, the manufacturer’s construction specialist must prepare a technical passport for prefabricated buildings in the relevant design area. The technical passport must be created before the building is offered on the market, providing buyers with necessary information about the building’s compliance with construction regulations. The passport can also be used in place of a building project when submitting it for approval at the building authority. Only a site-specific general plan and foundation solutions, depending on the location, will need to be additionally prepared.