Land and construction

Land in Uzbekistan can be allotted to business entities for agricultural or non-agricultural use. The intended purpose of the land shall be reflected in the land cadastre documentation.

Agricultural land shall be provided for agricultural needs and is subdivided into irrigated and non-irrigated (rainfed) lands, arable lands, lands occupied by hayfields, pastures, perennial fruit plantations and vineyards.

Lands for industry, transport, communications, and other purposes shall be provided for non-agricultural use to business entities for the specified purposes.

Non-agricultural land, land unsuitable for agriculture or agricultural land of inferior quality may be provided for the construction of industrial enterprises, railways and highways, communication and power lines, as well as for other non-agricultural needs.

Change of land category

Change of land's category from one category to another is permitted. The chage of non-irrigated agricultural land to another category shall be carried out by the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan, while the change of irrigated agricultural land to another category shall be carried out in accordance with the decision of the President of Uzbekistan. In other cases, the change of land's category from one category to another shall be carried out by the khokims of regions and the city of Tashkent.

When allocating agricultural and forest lands to business entities for needs not related to agriculture and forestry, they should compensate for losses in agricultural and forestry production.

Land acquisition

Business entities may acquire land plots under the right of permanent use or lease. Foreign companies and enterprises with foreign investments may hold land plots under lease rights.

Land plots shall be allotted for permanent use based on the decision of the khokim of the region and the city of Tashkent. Land plots for non-agricultural purposes may be obtained for lease through electronic online auctions at e-auksion.uz.

When acquiring a building, structure, or other real estate, the right of permanent use or lease of the land plot occupied by these objects and necessary for their use shall be also transferred to the new purchaser.

Land plots shall be provided by the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan to companies implementing a large investment project, determined by competitive selection and worth at least 10 million US dollars.

The rights of business entities to land plots are subject to state registration. The document certifying the right to a land plot is an electronic extract from the state register of rights to real estate.

Duration of land rights

Lands intended for agricultural purposes can be leased may a period of 30 years. The lease term for non-agricultural land may not exceed 100 years.

Land plots shall be leased to foreign companies and enterprises with foreign investment for a period of up to 25 years. The lessee has the preferential right to renew the land lease agreement upon its expiry, all other things being equal.

Land payments

Land use in Uzbekistan is paid. Land payment is levied in the form of an annual land tax, the amount of which is determined depending on the quality, location, and water availability of the land plot.

When providing land plots for lease, land payment is levied in the form of rent. The rent for land plots is equated to the land tax.

Land seizure

Seizure of land plots or parts thereof belonging to other persons for public needs shall be carried out with compensation in accordance with the procedure established by law.

Organization of construction works

The following public services are related to the organization and conduct of construction of commercial facilities:

1. Development of an architectural and planning assignment (APA). The APA defines the general requirements for the appearance of buildings, car parks, entrances and exits from the territory, landscaping and improvement of the land plot, and laying of utilities.
2. Approval of a design and estimate documentation. Design and estimate documentation shall be developed by a design organization that has an appropriate license.
3. Registration of a construction object to start construction and installation works. Performing construction works without registering a construction object is prohibited.
4. Issuance of a permit for the operation of a completed construction object. The permit for the operation shall be the basis for state registration of rights to immovable property.

Business entities may apply to public service centers in person or online through the portal of public services my.gov.uz.

Some types of construction require a license. See our article on licensed activities.

Control over construction

During construction, state control over construction, technical control by the employer of construction, and author's control by the developer of a design and estimate documentation shall be required.

State control of construction and urban planning activities shall be carried out by territorial inspections for control in the field of construction.

Technical control during the construction and reconstruction of facilities shall be carried out by the employer of construction by assigning a technical control specialist or by engaging an organization that has the right to carry out this type of activity.

Author's control shall be carried out by the developer of a design and estimate documentation during the entire period of construction of the facility on the basis of an agreement.

Categories of construction objects

Construction objects are divided into 4 categories according to the level of risk, depending on which the frequency of state construction control is determined:

1. Category I – objects with a low-risk factor (photo studios, temporary pavilions, kiosks, verandas, and others), for which state construction control may not be carried out
2. Category II – objects with an average risk factor (warehouses for storing timber and raw materials, firewood production workshops, glass and mirror production workshops, and others), for which state construction control is carried out no more than 2 times a month
3. Category III – objects with a high-risk factor (rock salt mining enterprises, non-ferrous metal processing, chemical and synthetic product manufacturing facilities, and others), for which state construction control is carried out no more than 3 times a month
4. Category IV – objects with a very high-risk factor (nuclear industry, oil, gas and gas condensate production, preparation, processing and storage facilities, and others), for which state construction control is carried out no more than 4 times a month