Colombia proposes new construction rules to speed up earthquake recovery

The Colombian Ministry of Housing, City and Territory has proposed a new decree to streamline urban and construction licensing in regions affected by the earthquake on August 10, 2026. This initiative is part of a 30-day national emergency declared across 15 departments to assist victims and accelerate reconstruction.

Key measures include the automatic extension of all active urban licenses and revalidations in departments such as Antioquia, Caldas, Cauca, Chocó, Quindío, Risaralda, Huila, Valle del Cauca, Tolima, Putumayo, and Norte de Santander. Additionally, the decree would allow municipal mayors to issue direct construction orders under risk management laws, bypassing certain administrative requirements.

While the government aims to remove bureaucratic obstacles, it emphasizes that all reconstruction must strictly adhere to current national anti-seismic codes to prevent the rebuilding of structurally flawed or unsafe buildings.