Tbilisi City Hall regulates construction in capital city

Tbilisi City Hall is bringing in tough new construction regulations in Georgia’s capital city.

A City Hall spokesperson said the new regulations would help Tbilisi retain its unique character and reduce the chaotic constructions in the growing city.

In a press statement today Tbilisi Mayor David Narmania said Tbilisi City Hall would initially impose temporary construction restrictions to regulate the height and size of residential buildings in central Tbilisi. The regulations would mainly affect construction companies but also private property owners who wanted to remodel or update their homes.

Additionally, constructions plans must go through a consent process and be approved before any building can begin.

This morning Narmania said City Hall had developed the regulations and will send a special document to the Sakrebulo (city council) for approval today.

The restrictions would apply to the historical part of the city and densely populated areas including in some parts of Saburtalo, Vake, Didube, Isani and Mtatsminda-Krtsanisi districts.

The rules would allow more efficient city planning.

This will enable us to change the damning practice of chaotic constructions in Tbilisi’s central and historic settlements,” Narmania stressed.

The regulations also foresaw imposing restrictions on construction in the city’s ‘green areas’, near public squares and gardens.

Meanwhile, Narmania also promised the Tbilisi City Hall would encourage the development of ‘green roofs’ and terraces during the construction of residential buildings in Tbilisi.

Details of what ‘green roofs’ mean were not specified however it could mean roofs are fitted with solar panels or areas for planting. Narmania said City Hall authorities were still working on this and details would be announced in the future.

Furthermore, other rules regulating the city’s visual image will also be defined, he said.