New oversight measures introduced for construction in Uzbekistan

Starting July 1, 2025, construction and housing utilities sector inspectors in Uzbekistan will begin using mobile video cameras (body cameras) and specialized tablets to enhance state supervision. This is outlined in the Presidential decree “On Measures to Effectively Organize State Supervision in Construction and Housing Utilities Sector,” adopted on April 14, 2025.

The decree identifies the following priorities for improving state supervision in the construction and housing utilities sector:

• Establishing the Inspection Authority for Construction and Housing Utilities as an independent republican executive authority.
• Fully digitalizing oversight functions in construction, multi-apartment building management, water supply, and wastewater systems.
• Developing control mechanisms managed by the private sector.

New Measures Effective May 1:

• Entrepreneurs and regional inspection authorities will sign agreements for short-term state construction control measures at construction sites. These inspections will remain outside the “Unified State Supervision” information system if conducted under the contract terms.
• Inspection authorities will be strictly prohibited from interfering in the financial and economic activities of entities, regardless of their funding sources.

As of September 1, every construction project will have a QR-code passport that allows access to information on urban planning entities, construction timelines, approved documentation, and expert conclusions.

Amendments or demolitions of structural parts and load-bearing walls of multi-apartment buildings, as well as modifications that negatively affect earthquake resistance, will be banned if conducted in violation of urban planning norms.

New Initiatives Effective July 1:

• All drinking water supply and wastewater system facilities must undergo mandatory technological audits under contract.
• Regional inspection offices will gradually establish online monitoring centers for construction projects.
• As part of a pilot program, video cameras will be installed at new construction sites in the Kashkadarya region, funded by the state budget in 2025.
• Mobile video cameras and specialized tablets will be used for state supervision of construction and housing utilities.

Regulation of Private Construction Oversight: From July 1 onward:

• Private-sector oversight will manage construction and reconstruction of individual housing and small non-residential buildings.
• Upon completion, private oversight projects will include a conclusion issued in the “Transparent Construction” national information system by the project planner, which will be handed over to the client.
• Permission to use completed facilities will be granted by the relevant district (city) construction and housing utilities departments.
• Facilities will not be approved for use if private oversight was not conducted or if a positive conclusion from the project planner is missing.

Private Construction Oversight Objects:

• Individual houses with no more than 2 floors and a height of up to 12 meters or a total area not exceeding 500 square meters.
• Non-residential buildings and structures with a volume exceeding 300 cubic meters, as well as lightweight (prefabricated) constructions.

Previously, amendments were made to the Administrative Responsibility Code to include penalties for violating air quality protection requirements at construction sites. These include mandatory measures to prevent the spread of dust and sand particles in construction zones exceeding 500 square meters. Non-compliance can result in fines amounting to 10 times the base calculation amount (3,750,000 UZS) for officials.