We would like to inform you of the current status regarding the implementation of the new Building Act, which comes into force on 1 July 2024, and the situation regarding the conduct of planning proceedings.

Unfortunately, we must note that the Building Control Information System (hereinafter ‘ISSŘ’), through which building authorities are required to manage a substantial part of their workload from 1 July 2024, lacks the functionality that is absolutely essential for conducting administrative proceedings; the system is constantly being updated, and working with it is very difficult, problematic and significantly more time-consuming than with the previous software solution. Unfortunately, this situation has persisted for more than a month since the ISSŘ was launched, and the building authority is therefore unable to guarantee the issuance of a decision or other administrative act within the statutory time limit. The unsatisfactory state of the information system is causing problems nationwide across all building authorities; this is not a fault on the part of the Příbram Municipal Authority, as the system has been implemented by the Ministry for Regional Development.

The overall situation is not made any easier by the fact that we are facing a shortage of qualified staff, as we have long been unable to fill vacant posts. Furthermore, builders’ concerns regarding the effectiveness of the new Building Act and the functionality of the new information systems led to a massive increase in applications submitted under the ‘old’ Building Act during June 2024, with a significant number of these applications containing errors, which in turn leads to an increase in the number of procedures the building authority must carry out in administrative proceedings.

The legislation allows applicants to make use of certain supervisory measures available from a higher authority, such as protection against inaction or a complaint regarding improper administrative procedure; however, these mechanisms are primarily intended to address individual cases of administrative failure, rather than widespread and systemic problems, where, in particular, building authorities of municipalities with extended powers – including the Příbram Municipal Authority – are faced with a volume of applications that is objectively impossible to process within the time limits laid down by law. Such situations will most likely be difficult for the superior administrative authority to resolve, whether through the withdrawal or delegation of applications, as this situation is uniformly prevalent across the entire country.

The current situation is having a negative impact not only on the work of officials at the building authority, but also on the work of the relevant state administrative bodies that issue opinions on planning proceedings. We would therefore like to ask building applicants for their patience whilst their applications are being processed.

Thank you for your understanding.

Ing. Jaroslava Poláková
, Secretary of the Příbram Municipal Authority

In Příbram, 7 August 2024

Description of the department’s activities

In accordance with the new Building Act No. 283/2021 Coll. and related regulations (hereinafter also referred to as the ‘new Building Act’), our department has been operating since 1 July 2024 as

Municipal Building Authority The
Municipal Building Authority is authorised to exercise state administration in accordance with Act No. 283/2021 Coll.

The Municipal Building Authority
: a) exercises the powers of a building authority in matters relating to development proposals for which the Transport and Energy Building Authority, the Regional Building Authority or any other building authority does not exercise such powers;
b) carries out inspections in matters relating to building regulations.

The powers of the building authority in matters relating to proposals for Class II and III roads, local roads, publicly accessible service roads, technical infrastructure forming part of the electricity or gas distribution networks, and waterworks in respect of which the regional building authority does not exercise the powers of a building authority, including structures forming a complex of structures with them, are exercised by the municipal building authority of a municipality with extended powers.

Spatial Planning
Department Performance of the duties of the spatial planning authority in accordance with Section 25 of the new Building Act.

Heritage Conservation
Exercise of state heritage conservation functions in accordance with Act No. 20/1987 Coll., on State Heritage Conservation, as amended.