Sanctions tightening on illegal constructions in Tbilisi cultural heritage zones

Sanctions on illegal constructions within designated zones of cultural heritage on state- or municipality-owned property in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi will be tightened, Mayor Kakha Kaladze revealed on Wednesday.

Kaladze said former fines for the violation had been “insufficient for certain builders”, a circumstance he claimed had damaged the city’s “appearance and rights of every resident”.

The amendments, which will come into play starting on Thursday, involve handing out ₾250,000 ($93,117) in fines for illegal construction on state- or municipally-owned real estate within cultural heritage protection zones.

Unauthorised constructions of III or IV class buildings and works done on them within the zones on privately owned lands will result in a ₾200,000 ($74,494) fine, with penalties also being tightened for illegal construction of I and II class buildings.

Constructions in cultural heritage zones that violate permit criteria will be fined ₾30,000 ($11,174), while for buildings in the IV class the fine will be ₾75,000 ($27,935).

In addition, the fine for class III and IV violations of conservation regulations, which involves abandoning construction-related objects in cultural heritage protection zones, has been increased to ₾150,000 ($55,870).

The Mayor said the sanctions for illegal constructions on cultural heritage monuments had also been increased due to “numerous” monuments in cultural heritage protection zones.

The penalty for rehabilitation works on monuments without permits will be set at ₾250,000 ($93,117), violations of permit conditions will be fined ₾150,000 ($55,870), while the fine for violating conservation rules will amount to ₾200,000 ($74,494).

Small-scale rehabilitation work done on monuments without permits will result in a fine of ₾40,000 ($14,898), punishment for violating terms of permits will be ₾20,000 ($7,449), and the fine for failing conservation guidelines will amount to ₾25,000 ($9,311).

Kaladze noted the aim of the sanctions was to reduce the amount of illegal construction in areas designated for cultural heritage protection and to establish a “preventive mechanism”.