Prerequisites for cooperation between self-government and state administration in the construction sector of the Slovak Republic in the light of the new legislation

Abstract

Competences in the construction sector of the Slovak Republic (SR) under the current legislation are exercised at the local level of the state both by institutions of local self-government (municipalities) and state administration (district offices). The building authorities with the authority to decide on building permits are currently the municipalities to which the state has delegated building competences by Act No. 50/1976 Coll. on spatial planning and building regulations, as amended. However, the new construction legislation, effective from 1.4.2024, leads to a retroactive transfer of construction competences from municipalities to the state, to the newly created regional construction authorities. The long-awaited change in the legislation in the field of building regulations is expected to shorten the permitting processes and improve the functioning of building authorities. Municipalities will carry out the spatial planning, but the issuance of decisions on construction will be the responsibility of the state. The research presented in the paper, conducted through guided interviews with municipalities and district authorities in two selected regions of the SR, demonstrated the lack of state preparedness for the operation of the new state policy in the construction sector. We have come to a similar conclusion by theoretical analysis of the opinions of domestic and foreign authors. Optimal functioning of cooperation between state and local authorities would be possible with future legislative adjustments to the redistribution of construction proceedings between state and local self-government.

Recreational Potential of the Agrokomplex National Exhibition Center, State Enterprise in the Chrenová Urban District Nitra, Slovakia

“…Although there is a great deal of interest in the public areas among the residents, these interests are unfortunately different from those of the exhibition center's management. Residential zone revitalization and greening initiatives play a significant role in the development of local communities, the involvement of local leaders, and the crucial support of commercial, non-profit, and government entities (Marišová et al, 2023). Locals might directly participate in project implementation or participatory planning.…”

Construction Legislation – Current and Future in the Legal System of the Slovak Republic

“…Greguš believes that the fundamental problem in the Construction Act is the length of the building permit process. (10) The exercise of building competence is administratively demanding. The authors of the article state that according to a World Bank analysis, Slovakia ranks 154 th out of 190 countries in the world in terms of the speed of processing building permits.…”

Revitalization of the Park in the Center of Ivanka Pri Dunaji

“…They face the important task of fulfilling the goals of sustainable development (Schneider, Kalasová, Fialová, (2020), Mariš, 2022), especially the creation of sustainable municipalities and communities. For almost two decades, the attention of municipalities has been focused on the restoration of public spaces from European financial resources (Marišová et al, 2023). These interventions often significantly influenced and changed the image and morphology of the Slovak countryside , Bihuňova et al, 2021, Kuczman, Bechera, Rusko, Feriancová, 2021.…”