Turkey enforces new land‑use rules, targeting illegal hobby gardens and disputed zoning plans

The Turkish government is preparing stricter regulations for hobby gardens on agricultural land. Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change Minister Murat Kurum announced a forthcoming law that will bring all hobby‑garden sites under tighter control, impose fines up to 7.5 million TL and allow the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry to order demolition of structures that remain after a one‑month notice. The proposal follows data showing roughly 7 million hobby gardens nationwide, about 2 million of which contain standalone houses.

In a related enforcement move, Bursa’s Administrative Court halted the implementation of a controversial rezoning plan for the Orhangazi districts of Cihanköy and Muradiye. The plan, approved by municipal councils despite repeated legal challenges, sought to convert agricultural parcels into industrial use. Lawyer Erol Çiçek warned that the repeated approvals amount to illegal profiteering and said he will file criminal complaints against the council members who voted for the plan.