Parliament approves new building act

The lower house of Parliament on Tuesday overturned the Senate’s veto of an amendment to the building law drafted by Regional Development Minister Klára Dostálová. The bill aims to accelerate permitting processes on construction projects under the principle of “one authority, one procedure, one stamp”.

The Senate criticized the fact that the amendment will transfer all decision making to the state-run Supreme Building Authority which will be organized similarly to the tax authorities and eliminates the possibility of cities applying their own rules.

The bill also raised controversy in connection with a provision that said residential rooms do not have to have direct ventilation and daylight.

The new building act is scheduled to take effect on 1 July 2023.