The New Building Act in Business Practice: Faster Permitting, but Also Greater Emphasis on Proper Preparation

09. 07. 2026

As of 1 July 2024, the new Building Act began to apply fully also to ordinary construction projects. The Ministry for Regional Development stated that the aim of the new regulation is to speed up and simplify building proceedings, enable building permits to be obtained online in one place through the Builder’s Portal, and introduce a single proceeding in which the construction project is both located and permitted. The Act also provides for a transitional period until the end of June 2027.

For entrepreneurs, the new building regulation is relevant not only when they are constructing a production hall, offices, or a development project. It also concerns smaller business premises, renovations, changes in the use of premises, construction modifications in leased premises, photovoltaic installations, storage spaces, utility connections, advertising structures, or modifications to buildings related to business activities. In all these cases, proper assessment of the building-law regime may be decisive in determining whether the entrepreneur is acting lawfully and whether they may face removal of the structure, a prohibition on use, or sanctions in the future.

One of the key changes is the effort to concentrate the permitting process. Instead of separate zoning and building proceedings, the construction project is to be addressed in a single permitting proceeding. From an entrepreneur’s perspective, this may mean a simpler process, but only provided that the application is properly prepared, contains the necessary documentation, and the entrepreneur has clarified which statements, opinions, or supporting documents will be required for the specific project.

The Ministry for Regional Development states that the Act lays down fixed deadlines for issuing decisions, namely 30 days from the commencement of proceedings for a simple construction project and 60 days in other cases. At the same time, if binding opinions are not supplied, the building authority is to request them from the relevant authorities itself. In practice, however, the mere existence of a deadline does not mean automatic success for a poorly prepared project. Poor-quality documentation, unclear ownership relations, unresolved objections from neighbours, or a conflict with binding documents may significantly complicate the permitting process.

The unified environmental statement is also significant. According to the Ministry for Regional Development, it replaces statements issued under several different laws. For entrepreneurs, this may represent a practical simplification, especially in projects where building and environmental agendas overlap. At the same time, however, this does not mean that environmental requirements have lost their importance. On the contrary, it is advisable to address them already during the project preparation phase, rather than only when a problem arises in the proceedings.

Entrepreneurs should also pay attention to the transitional period. According to the Ministry for Regional Development, documentation prepared before the new Building Act became effective may be used until the end of June 2027. This may be significant especially for projects that have been prepared over a longer period of time, for development projects, or for investments where costs have already been incurred for project documentation. An incorrect choice of regime or uncertainty regarding the usability of documentation may lead to delays and additional costs.

In conclusion, the new Building Act represents both an opportunity and a risk for entrepreneurs. The opportunity lies in the possibility of faster and more concentrated permitting, a greater degree of digitalisation, and the simplification of certain processes. The risk, on the other hand, lies in underestimating preparation, unfamiliarity with transitional rules, or an incorrect assessment of whether a particular modification of business premises, construction project, or change of use requires a permit. For business projects, it is therefore advisable to address building-law issues before concluding a lease agreement, purchasing real estate, or commencing an investment.

All articles