Turkey's Parliament Bans Hobby Gardens on Agricultural Land

The Turkish Grand National Assembly approved a new amendment to the Land Protection and Use Law that prohibits subdividing agricultural land into "hobby gardens" or similar recreational plots. The law bans the construction of unauthorized structures on such lands and bars the provision of electricity, water, and natural gas to them; utilities companies that supply services will face administrative fines.

Violations will incur a minimum fine of 1,000 Turkish lira, with an additional penalty of 2,500 lira per square metre of the offending structure. The amendment also bars housing and construction cooperatives from acquiring agricultural parcels, while agricultural‑purpose cooperatives may obtain land only with Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry approval. Approximately 80,000 forest‑border parcels with unresolved titles will be regularised free of charge, and stricter rules on alcohol advertising were introduced alongside the land‑use measures.