A ban on building houses is coming into effect. Plots of land will lose all their value.

• By the end of June 2026, local governments are to develop general plans that will specify the plots permitted for development and those where construction will be completely prohibited.
• The fear of losing the right to develop is causing a sharp increase in applications for development conditions under the current rules.
• Experts point out that limiting property rights without compensation may be inconsistent with the Constitution of the Republic of Poland.

By the end of June 2026, local governments are obliged to develop so-called general plans , which will replace the existing studies of conditions and directions of spatial development.

Fear of the new regulations is causing authorities to see a sharp increase in the number of applications for planning permission under the current rules. Residents are trying to ensure they can build a house before the municipal master plans come into effect.

What changes are coming into effect? ​​General plans will clearly define the plots where building homes will be permitted, and those where it will be completely excluded in the future.

Poles are realizing that their plot of land may become worthless if they do not apply for the issuance of development conditions under the old rules - wrote prawo.pl.

As a result, property owners submit applications to municipalities for the issuance of development conditions.

• The reduction in the availability of land for development after the entry into force of general plans may also translate into an increase in plot prices.
• According to some lawyers , such a far-reaching restriction of property rights, without any compensation, may be contrary to the Constitution of the Republic of Poland.

Maciej Górski, attorney-at-law and partner at GPLF, said in an interview with prawo.pl that today it is possible to effectively request a decision on development conditions.

"A general plan, however, may deprive them of this possibility. And this argument cannot be ignored, because depriving property owners of the opportunity to obtain a decision on development conditions undoubtedly causes demonstrable damage to their property. The amended Spatial Planning and Development Act does not provide for compensation in such a situation, and even excludes it. This is precisely where the unconstitutionality may be found," he noted.