Zoning plan amendment and consolidated version

An amendment (změna) changes a municipality's zoning plan only in the parts being changed, for example by adding a new development area, changing the use of a site or the height limits. Amendments are numbered (změna č. 1, č. 2…) and each is a separate measure of a general nature issued by the municipal council. It takes effect on the day a public notice is delivered.

The consolidated version

After each amendment the planning office must produce a consolidated version (úplné znění): the plan in force with all amendments worked in, including text and drawings. The Ministry for Regional Development points out that the consolidated version is not itself a legal measure but a technical merger of the original plan and its amendments. In practice, however, it is the document people work with. When reading a plan:

• use the latest consolidated version, not the original plan or a single amendment on its own,
• check the record of effect for the number of the latest amendment and the date it took effect,
• for a disputed zone, read the amendment itself and its justification, which includes the text with the changes marked.

Amendments in progress

A municipality may be preparing an amendment that will change the zones around a house. The draft is published and presented at a public hearing. Under the new Building Act, comments (připomínky) are submitted on it: anyone may file them in writing within 15 days of the public hearing. Information on amendments in progress is usually on the municipality's official notice board and website, with the planning office and in the National Spatial Planning Geoportal.

Frequently asked questions

Can a landowner propose an amendment?

Yes. A citizen of the municipality or an owner of land or a building there may submit a proposal. The municipal council decides whether to prepare the amendment; it may reject the proposal or require the proposer to pay the costs. There is therefore no legal right to an amendment.

How do I know I have the current version?

From the record of effect and the list of amendments on the website of the municipality or the planning office. If another amendment was issued after the latest consolidated version, it applies too. It is also worth finding out whether a new amendment or an entirely new plan is being prepared, as this can affect the zones around the property.