Procedure for renewing construction work licenses to be resumed in Oct – official

KYIV. Oct 6 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The procedure for renewing construction work licenses will be resumed in October 2021, Deputy Minister of Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine Natalia Kozlovska said in an exclusive interview with Interfax-Ukraine.

"The functions of control and supervision, as well as the functions of the licensing body, were returned to the State Inspectorate for Architecture and Urban Planning. Now, work to extend the term of those licenses that were previously granted will be automatically organized," she said.

Kozlovska recalled that according to the legislation, construction work with CC2 medium and CC3 high consequences for loss of human life is subject to licensing, certain types of work, for example, installation work.

As reported, within the framework of the reform of architectural and construction control and supervision, which was launched in March 2020, the issuance of licenses to construction companies was canceled, and certification of the responsible executor of work (a foreman) was to be introduced instead. However, the reform dragged on, the work of companies with "expired" licenses was frozen, and the State Architectural and Construction Inspectorate no longer had the right to renew them. Currently, during the transitional stage the function of the licensing authority was returned to the State Inspectorate for Architecture and Urban Planning.

"Previously, licenses had a term, now they are indefinite. The law states that licenses issued earlier with a term also become indefinite. But to receive confirmation of a license in which the term has expired, one needs to enter it in the register and record that it is indefinite," Kozlovska said.

According to her, work is now underway with the Diia application. All existing licenses are added to the system. "But we will add the indefinite term [to the licenses] only upon a request of the entity. It could be that the person no longer works and he does not need it. This also happens. The confirmation will be received on an electronic request," she said.

According to Kozlovska, the license renewal process will be resumed in October. The question of the compliance of the license, the qualifications of the personnel and the availability of the necessary equipment will be analyzed by the State Inspectorate for Architecture and Urban Planning during scheduled and unscheduled inspections. "If there are violations, the inspectorate can suspend the license," she said.

There is no consensus on the future of the licensing practice itself.

"The issue of licenses is open. The issue regarding their necessity is under discussion. The Confederation of Builders of Ukraine insists on the need to license construction work, so let’s see how it will be in bill [No. 5655] for the second reading," the deputy minister said.