Sanctions on illegal constructions within designated zones of cultural heritage on state- or municipality-owned property in Tbilisi will be tightened. Such a statement made today the Mayor of the capital.

“Former fines for the violation had been insufficient for certain builders, a circumstance had damaged the city’s appearance and rights of every resident.

The amendments, which will come into play starting on Thursday [January 11], involve handing out GEL 250,000 in fines for illegal construction on state- or municipally-owned real estate within cultural heritage protection zones.

Unauthorized constructions of III or IV class buildings and works done on them within the zones on privately owned lands will result in a GEL 200,000 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 GEL 30,000, while for buildings in the IV class the fine will be GEL 75,000.

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 GEL 150,000.

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 GEL 250,000, violations of permit conditions will be fined GEL 150,000, while the fine for violating conservation rules will amount to GEL 200,000.

Small-scale rehabilitation work done on monuments without permits will result in a fine of GEL 40,000, punishment for violating terms of permits will be GEL 20,000, and the fine for failing conservation guidelines will amount to GEL 25,000.

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”, - explained Kakha Kaladze.