Uzbekistan will strengthen accountability for violations of construction regulations.

During the latest plenary session of the Senate, the Law "On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Connection with the Improvement of the Seismic Safety Assurance System" was reviewed.

It was noted at the meeting that over the past three years, the Construction Control Inspection has established state oversight over nearly 100,000 construction projects. Despite this, around 9,000 violations of construction norms were recorded in the first 11 months of 2024.

The identified violations have led to the suspension of construction on more than 4,000 sites and the demolition of approximately 1,500 structures over the last three years. During the period from 2022 to 2024, over 13,000 projects commenced construction without state registration.

"In recent years, there has been an increase in cases of construction work without permits, non-compliance with master plans, and unauthorized demolition or renovation of basements in apartment buildings. The legislation does not even establish liability for failing to comply with directives given by designers," the upper chamber noted.

Specifically, a number of amendments are being introduced to the Criminal Code, the Criminal Procedure Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Administrative Liability Code, and the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan "On Licensing, Permitting, and Notification Procedures." These amendments aim to improve construction quality, prevent illegal building of structures, and ensure strict compliance with urban planning legislation.

Changes to Article 229-3 of the Criminal Code introduce criminal liability for violations related to the issuance of permits for the operation of completed buildings and structures, as well as their acceptance for operation.

Additionally, criminal liability will be applied for constructing facilities without permits from regulatory inspections, as well as for altering or reconstructing load-bearing structures in apartment buildings in violation of legislative and technical regulations, if such actions occur after an administrative penalty has been imposed for similar violations.

Separate criminal liability is established for violations of urban planning legislation that result in death or other serious consequences.

However, individuals committing such an offense for the first time (related to altering or reconstructing load-bearing structures in apartment buildings) may be exempt from liability if they voluntarily rectify the violations and their consequences.

Following the discussion, the law was approved by the senators.