On Thursday, 18 December, the Saeima adopted in the final reading urgent amendments to the Construction Law in order to reduce administrative burdens and facilitate the start of construction for natural persons.

The amendments establish specific cases that allow natural persons to construct buildings without the involvement of a construction merchant. This right will also be provided to farmers and fish farmers regardless of the type of their economic activity, as well as to cooperative enterprises if construction is to be carried out by the members of the enterprise and will result in buildings necessary for agricultural activity, such as barns or sheds; the building construction area must not exceed 800 square metres. The restrictions on the building construction area will not apply to industrially manufactured farm buildings, such as greenhouses or canopy constructions.

Additionally, involvement of a construction merchant will not be mandatory for construction in military objects.

Private individuals building for private needs and organising construction by themselves will no longer be required to indicate the source of funding upon the start of construction. This obligation was previously set out in the Cabinet of Ministers regulation. The authors of the amendments have pointed out that this requirement is not reasonable, as the construction process may take several years and the source of funding may change during that time.

The Cabinet of Ministers is tasked with supplementing the special construction regulation with additional cases where construction may be carried out by individuals without the involvement of a construction merchant. The amendments will enter into force the day following their promulgation.

Saeima Press Service