Starting from January 1, 2016, Federal Law No.339-FZ dated November 28, 2015 “On introducing amendments to Articles 48 and 51 of the Town-Planning Code of the Russian Federation” (the “Law”) enters into effect. This Law is aimed at creating conditions for unrestricted access for handicapped people and other physically challenged social groups to social infrastructure facilities.

The Law stipulates that project documentation of capital construction facilities (apart from project documentation of linear facilities) must include a list of measures to provide access for handicapped people to health care, education, culture, leisure, sport and other facilities of sociocultural and public utility purposes, as well as to transport, trade, public food catering, business, administrative, financial, religious and housing facilities.

Furthermore, the Law stipulates that the said list of measures must be attached to the application for a building permit for such facilities if expert examination of the project documentation of the facilities has not been carried out pursuant to Article 49 of the Russian Town-Planning Code.

It is noteworthy that previously the body issuing building permits had no powers to request that the builder design and construct a facility in strict accordance with the rules on providing an accessible environment for handicapped people. Adoption of this Law provides for increase in accessibility of social and transport infrastructure facilities for handicapped people and other physically challenged social groups.

Federal Law No.339-FZ dated November 28, 2015 “On introducing amendments to Articles 48 and 51 of the Town-Planning Code of the Russian Federation”

Valentina Alikova   Associate  Moscow      Tel.: +7 (495) 970 10 90

Additional notes

Should any questions arise in connection with the above or if you need any additional materials, please contact Valentina Alikova, Moscow Office of Capital Legal Services.

This Information letter keeps the clients of Capital Legal Services and other interested parties abreast of information that may, to any extent, affect their activity or cater to their particular interests. The opinions and commentaries expressed in this information letter shall not be deemed as legal opinions and do not cancel the need to obtain legal advice or legal opinion on separate issues.