Slovenia to reform building permit process to reduce delays

Slovenian Minister for Interior and Public Administration Franci Matoz has announced reforms to the building permit issuance process, aiming to ensure permits are issued within 60 days of a complete application. A key change involves the involvement of neighbors; under new guidance coordinated with Minister for the Environment and Spatial Planning Polona Rifelj, neighbors will no longer be automatically included as parties in the proceedings. They will only be invited exceptionally or when specific legal conditions are met. The ministry stated this move aims to prevent delays caused by unfounded objections and legal remedies, which have previously caused some permit processes to last up to five years.

In a related development regarding infrastructure, the Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning is preparing a new decision on a building permit for the third development axis (3. razvojna os). This follows an oral hearing to inform stakeholders about the southern section of the expressway. Meanwhile, the Dolenjski razvojni klub, a local youth initiative, has launched a new petition to demand the immediate start of construction, following a previous attempt that was withdrawn under pressure.