Although the legal framework regulating the construction sector in Azerbaijan has been updated over the past decade, significant gaps still remain.
This was stated by Ramiz Isayev, Chairman of the Azerbaijan Construction Manufacturers Association (ACMA), in an interview with Report.az.
According to him, deficiencies in urban planning and construction, public procurement, and property registration negatively affect both economic development and the rule of law: “Addressing these gaps requires amendments to specific provisions, improvement of regulatory and technical documents, and institutional reforms. Several bodies oversee urban planning and construction permits, state supervision, and safety issues, but coordination is weak and decision-making processes are slow.”
Chairman Isayev noted that limited access to transparent land-cadastre and planning information, and the lack of complete and permanent public databases for urban planning decisions (detailed plans, building density, functional zoning) increase project risks.
He added that longstanding problems in property registration and cadastre persist: “One of the biggest gaps is the presence of a large number of undocumented houses and land plots. In recent years, the legal status of residential buildings and industrial facilities constructed despite bureaucratic obstacles related to land designation has still not been resolved.”
According to Isayev, the documentation package required for obtaining a construction permit is quite complex: “Even citizens who wish to build a private house need the services of professional architects and engineers. Preparing project documents and conducting geological surveys is challenging both financially and time-wise. For multi-storey buildings and industrial facilities, the state expertise required adds additional documentation and evaluation requirements, creating a serious bureaucratic barrier for applicants.”
(Source: Report.az)
