Hungary issues decree for enhanced transparency in construction authority proceedings
On 30 June 2026, a Hungarian amendment to Government Decree No. 281/2024 (IX. 30.) on construction authority procedures and inspections entered into force, which will strengthen public access in administrative proceedings and ensure all proceedings are conducted lawfully.
The explanatory memorandum notes that reinstating public access was necessary because the previous restrictions hindered citizens from exercising their constitutional fundamental rights, impeded access to information on construction projects and investments of public interest and obstructed related press investigations.
The Amendment’s most significant change is the reinstatement of the public interface of the electronic documentation system used in construction and heritage protection authority proceedings (ÉTDR), which was discontinued by the previous government in 2024.
As a result of this reinstatement, general information not containing personal data (e.g. the type of proceeding, its date, the address and land registry number of the affected plot, and the subject matter of the construction activity) will once again be publicly accessible to any person.
In addition, the construction authority is required to publish on the ÉTDR public interface a site plan, elevation plan or visualisation not containing personal data in connection with the relevant proceeding or, in the case of demolition, photographs of the building and its surroundings.
The authority must also publish a summary of the principal content of its decision simultaneously with its issuance.
Pursuant to the transitional provisions, the new public access requirements apply to proceedings pending at the time of the Amendment’s entry into force (30 June 2026), data previously available on the ÉTDR public information interface until 15 August 2024, and data of proceedings initiated between 16 August 2024 and the entry into force date of 30 June.
For more information on how Amendment could impact your Hungary-based construction development plans, contact your CMS client partner or the CMS experts who contributed to this article.
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This article was co-authored by András Rezsnyák and Boglárka Molnár.
