Ecuador's Assembly revises land‑use law after Constitutional Court partial veto

The Ecuadorian Constitutional Court partially upheld President Daniel Noboa’s objections to the proposed Organic Law on Territorial Planning, Use and Land Management (LOOTUGS) on 5 June 2026. The court ruled that several provisions granted excessive authority to the Superintendence of Territorial Planning and infringed on the autonomy of municipal governments, declaring articles 9, 10, 13, 16, 20, 21, 23, 26 and 28 unconstitutional.

On 30 June 2026 the National Assembly voted to accept the court’s partial veto. In the first vote, 80 legislators supported the constitutional objection amendment, with 53 against and five abstentions; a second vote on the executive’s convenience objection passed with 82 votes in favor, 49 opposed and eight abstentions. The revised bill removes the contested powers, limits the Superintendence to technical oversight, and eliminates mandatory fast‑track housing project provisions, restoring decision‑making authority to local municipalities. The project will return to the legislative process for final approval.