Persistent Uncertainty Regarding The Amendment To The Czech Building Act

The proclaimed goal of the new legislation is to speed up the lengthy approval process hindering building projects. Nevertheless, some provisions of the amendment were challenged before the Constitutional Court.

The amendment

A new amendment no. 225/2017 Coll., (the "Amendment") to Act No. 183/2006 Coll., on Town and Country Planning and the Building Code (the "Building Act") became effective as of 1 January 2018 and significantly modifies the current state of the approval process in order to accelerate construction in the Czech Republic.

Exclusion of environmental organisations

Prior to the effectiveness of the Amendment, environmental organisations were allowed to participate in ordinary zoning and building proceedings under the Building Act and to challenge the decisions adopted therein. Under the Amendment, however, they are no longer allowed to enter into the vast majority of proceedings stipulated in the Building Act. Thus, environmental