Thursday, 18 December 2025
The Czech government has approved an amendment to the Building Act that seeks to significantly restructure the country’s construction permitting system. The proposal introduces a centralised construction administration and designates certain large residential developments as being in the public interest, with the stated aim of accelerating approval procedures and reducing administrative complexity.
A key element of the amendment is the creation of a new Office for Territorial Development of the Czech Republic, under which construction officials currently working at municipal and regional levels would be integrated. The office is expected to operate through 14 regional branches and more than 200 local workplaces, with the option of further expansion. According to the government, the reform is intended to replace the existing fragmented system with a single permitting process based on the principle of “one authority, one procedure, one decision”.
The amendment is also designed to address issues linked to the previous version of the Building Act, which introduced digitalisation of permitting processes from 2024 but has been widely criticised for implementation difficulties. The new proposal envisages changes to the scope and timing of digital tools, with professional bodies noting that full digitalisation has effectively been postponed until 2030.
Under the proposed rules, the construction of apartment buildings exceeding 10,000 square metres and comprising at least 100 residential units would be classified as a public interest. This designation would allow such projects to benefit from an accelerated permitting process. The government argues that faster approvals could help increase housing supply and ease pressure in the residential market, although the direct impact on prices remains uncertain.
The amendment also foresees the integration of several affected authorities into the building administration system, while reaffirming the role of cities and municipalities in spatial planning and territorial development.
Business organisations, including the Czech Chamber of Commerce, have welcomed the modernisation of construction law, stating that clearer and faster permitting could support investment in housing and transport infrastructure. At the same time, a number of stakeholders have raised reservations. Representatives of the Civic Democratic Party (ODS) have expressed concerns that full centralisation of construction authorities could disrupt permitting processes, particularly in smaller municipalities, during the transition period.
The Czech Chamber of Authorised Engineers and Technicians has welcomed the planned reduction in the number of building authorities but noted that the amendment does not fully resolve the complexity of permitting procedures. Other critics argue that the proposal does not sufficiently address broader issues such as spatial planning reform, stronger incentives for municipalities to support new development, or targeted measures to promote affordable and cooperative housing.
The amendment is planned to come into force in July 2026, with the complete reorganisation of the construction administration system expected to be completed by 2028. The proposal will now move forward in the legislative process, where it will be debated in Parliament.
