Uzbekistan to strengthen penalties for urban planning violations

Measures of administrative and criminal liability for violations of urban planning legislation are being intensified. 

On July 23, the Senate's Committee on Defense and Security Issues held a meeting. During the meeting, the draft law "On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Connection with the Improvement of the Seismic Safety System" was discussed.

It was emphasized that the number of violations of urban planning legislation in Uzbekistan is increasing year by year. In particular, the State Control Inspection in the field of Construction and Housing and Communal Services established state control over 30,500 construction projects in 2021, 32,500 in 2022, and 36,200 in 2023. In these projects, administrative fines were imposed on 3,100 offenders in 2021, 6,100 in 2022, and 7,600 in 2023 under the relevant article of the Administrative Responsibility Code (Violation of Urban Planning Legislation).

The law introduces amendments to the Criminal, Criminal Procedural, and Administrative Responsibility Codes, as well as the Law "On Licensing, Permitting, and Notification Procedures."

In particular, amendments to Article 229.3 of the Criminal Code establish criminal liability for violations of the rules for the use and acceptance of completed buildings and structures, unauthorized construction by inspection authorities in the field of construction and housing and communal services, alterations and/or reconstruction of supporting structures in multi-apartment buildings in violation of legislation and technical regulations, and other actions.

Additionally, specific criminal liability is established for violations of urban planning legislation that result in human death or other serious consequences.

It was noted that a person who, for the first time, commits a crime related to the alteration and/or reconstruction of supporting structures in multi-apartment buildings, and voluntarily eliminates the alterations or demolitions and their consequences, may be exempted from liability.

A fine penalty is established for violations of requirements during design and construction works, as well as for deliberate or timely non-compliance with the instructions of the inspection authorities in the field of construction and housing and communal services and road construction quality control.

Additionally, the penalties currently established for violations of urban planning legislation are being increased.