Egypt.. Extending the deadline for reconciliation in building violations and new amendments to the law

The Egyptian Council of Ministers extended the deadline for reconciliation of building violations and legalization of state-owned lands for an additional period of 6 months, starting on November 5, 2026, giving citizens a new opportunity to complete the procedures required to reconcile their situations. The government also referred to the House of Representatives about 8 proposed amendments to the law on reconciliation of some building violations, aimed at facilitating procedures and addressing the problems that emerged during the application of the law, and they are scheduled to be discussed during the current session of the Council. Regulating reconciliation in building violations began under Law No. 17 of 2019, before it was replaced by Law No. 187 of 2023, which established a new framework for reconciliation procedures. The law is preparing for new amendments since the beginning of its implementation, in light of continued demands to amend some of the procedures that citizens faced while submitting reconciliation requests and completing their files.

The new deadline comes within the framework of a series of decisions to extend the period for submitting requests for reconciliation in building violations, as the government has previously extended the deadline more than once, to allow citizens the opportunity to complete their applications and the required documents. The current deadline also gives citizens an additional 6 months, while approval for reconciliation remains linked to examining and reviewing each request by the competent administrative authorities. Member of the Housing Committee in the House of Representatives, Hani Shehata, said that the government submitted to the Council about 8 amendments to the law on reconciliation of some building violations, aiming to facilitate procedures and deal with the problems that emerged during the application of the law. Among the most prominent files that the amendments address is the status of citizens who obtained Form 8, which is the document that indicates the acceptance of reconciliation for the violation mentioned in the application, and allows the completion of legal procedures related to connecting facilities in accordance with the regulating rules.

Shehata pointed out that the problem is that some of those who obtained Model 8 were unable to complete construction work in the floors whose columns or walls had previously been reconciled, and the amendments aim to allow construction to be completed in the floor that was reconciled, in accordance with the controls determined by the competent authorities. Shehata said in special statements to Ofoq News in Arabic that the government amendments also include allowing reconciliation on parking spaces according to specific conditions, and allowing reconciliation on some violations related to archaeological sites according to special controls, in addition to exempting real estate owners from submitting proof of the painting of the exterior facade of the building within the requirements for accepting reconciliation.

Regarding technical documents, Shehata explained that the amendments include only a structural safety certificate issued by a union engineer, instead of requiring it to be issued by a consulting engineer, which reduces the procedural requirements associated with submitting reconciliation requests. He added that the amendments include a proposal to grant a 50% discount on the value of reconciliation to some groups, including irregular workers and beneficiaries of the “Solidarity and Dignity” program. They also include amendments related to granting governors and heads of local councils and districts powers in some procedures related to extending the periods for reconciliation files and Model 8.

Shehata said that, in parallel with discussing the government amendments, a number of representatives are seeking to put forward other proposals related to the conditions for reconciliation, including changing the time period approved for aerial photography to include the end of December 2025, instead of the date currently in effect, which is October 15, 2023. Shehata explained that aerial photography represents an essential element in determining the timing of erecting the violating buildings that can be reconciled, and that adopting the current date prevents reconciliation, according to the existing controls, on buildings that were erected after it. The proposal also aims to grant The owners of the buildings in question are given an opportunity to reconcile their situations instead of facing demolition decisions.

Shehata also demanded that Form 8 be a building permit that allows the citizen to complete the work that has previously been reconciled, provided that this is done after returning to the competent local unit and following the necessary legal procedures. Among the proposals he also put forward is setting a clear period of time before the administrative authorities to examine reconciliation requests and respond to their owners, so that it does not exceed 60 days from the date of submitting the file. He explained that some citizens wait for periods that may reach 5 or 6 months without knowing the final decision on their requests, which requires, according to his proposal, the establishment of a mechanism that guarantees the resolution of files within a specific period, as well as considering the reconciliation request acceptable if the administrative authority does not respond to the citizen within the 60-day period, with the aim of pushing the competent authorities to expedite examining the requests and deciding on them, instead of citizens continuing to wait for long periods without their legal status being resolved.

Regarding the new deadline, Shehata said that it gives citizens an additional opportunity for a period of 6 months, starting on November 5, 2026. He expects that the reconciliation file will witness further developments with the discussion of government amendments and the proposals that will be put forward by the representatives. He pointed out that the percentage of those obtaining Form 8 ranges, according to his estimate, between 20% and 22%, considering that addressing the problems associated with applying the law and simplifying procedures can encourage more citizens to submit reconciliation requests. He added that facilitating procedures and addressing existing obstacles may help increase the number of citizens seeking to reconcile their situations, thus raising the outcome of reconciliation and providing resources that can be used to support infrastructure projects in villages and rural areas.

Shehata explained that Form 8 is related to the system approved by Law No. 187 of 2023, after it replaced Law No. 17 of 2019, which included Form 10. Form 8 also indicates acceptance of reconciliation for the violation included in the request, but it does not automatically grant the right to complete additional construction work that was not included in the reconciliation, which is the problem that the proposed amendments seek to address by allowing the completion of the floor whose columns or walls were previously reconciled, according to to legal controls.