Algeria’s Prime Minister Seifi Gheriabi has signed a new executive decree aimed at updating the urban planning system and simplifying administrative procedures for obtaining building permits. This significant legislative action shows the government's commitment to fostering a more efficient and investor-friendly environment. The decree, officially designated as Executive Decree No. 26-158 and dated April 14, 2026, introduces new provisions designed to expedite construction projects and cut down on bureaucratic hurdles. The new text was developed following a full report submitted by the Minister of Housing, Urbanism, and City, which noted the necessary changes to the existing framework to meet contemporary demands. Notably, specific facilities are now provided for investment projects that are registered with the One-Stop Shops of the Algerian Agency for Investment Promotion (AAPI), indicating a targeted effort to boost investment across various sectors. This strategic move is expected to significantly reduce the time and complexity associated with initiating and completing construction ventures.
Key Procedural Updates
The new Executive Decree No. 26-158 amends and supplements Executive Decree No. 15-19, which was issued in 2015, introducing several key procedural updates designed to enhance efficiency and transparency. A core aspect of these revisions is the establishment of clear, enforceable deadlines for various stages of the permit process. These deadlines are a direct response to previous challenges related to administrative delays and aim to instill greater predictability for developers and investors. The decree mandates that meetings for file study are to be held at least every 10 days, ensuring consistent progress on applications and preventing prolonged stagnation. This regular review schedule is critical for maintaining momentum in the approval process.
Compliance studies, a key step in the approval process that verifies adherence to regulatory standards, must now be conducted within a strict timeframe of 10 days. This accelerated timeline is intended to prevent bottlenecks and ensure that projects move forward swiftly once initial documentation is submitted. The decree also stipulates that an 8-day prior notice is required before any inspection takes place, providing project holders with adequate time to prepare and address any potential issues beforehand. This measure promotes fairness and reduces disruptions to ongoing work. For projects requiring adjustments to meet compliance standards, a generous period of 3 months is allocated for compliance settlement. These periodic meetings, held at least every ten days to study applications, aim to streamline the administrative workflow and significantly reduce delays in obtaining building permits, thereby accelerating project commencement. These detailed timelines reflect a concerted effort to create a more responsive and efficient regulatory environment.
Digitalization and One-Stop Shop
The new decree introduces "prior approval" as an alternative to some traditional administrative decisions, aiming to accelerate project initiation by allowing certain activities to commence while final approvals are pending. This innovative approach provides greater flexibility and responsiveness for developers. It also enables urban planning services or their representatives at the One-Stop Shop to conduct a preliminary study of architectural files, offering early feedback and reducing the likelihood of later rejections due to fundamental design issues. This proactive engagement helps applicants fine-tune their proposals before formal submission. Building permit applications for investment projects can now be submitted either in traditional paper format or through a dedicated digital platform, providing flexibility for developers and promoting greater accessibility to the application process. This dual submission method caters to different preferences and technological capabilities, ensuring broad participation.
The One-Stop Shop, which consists of representatives from various essential sectors, is responsible for processing these submitted files, acting as a centralized hub for all necessary administrative interactions. Its technical secretariat plays a key role in the process by receiving and registering applications, ensuring that all submissions are formally documented and tracked. This secretariat is also meticulously tasked with sending files to relevant departments for review, preparing for scheduled meetings to discuss project progress, and communicating decisions promptly and clearly to applicants, thereby centralizing key administrative functions and improving coordination. The integration of a dedicated digital platform further enhances the One-Stop Shop's capabilities, allowing for more efficient tracking, communication, and processing of applications. This digital transformation is a cornerstone of the government's strategy to modernize public services and facilitate investment.
Investment Project Facilitation
The new decree introduces specific provisions for handling rejected applications, stipulating that a 15-day period is granted to respond to decisions of rejection. This measure aims to provide project holders with sufficient time to address any issues leading to the initial refusal, allowing them to rectify deficiencies or provide additional information without having to restart the entire application process. This opportunity for a timely response is key for maintaining project timelines and reducing frustration. The updated regulations clarify the procedures for investment projects, centralizing several key functions within the existing administrative framework to ensure a coherent and expedited process.
For investment projects specifically, the compliance control and certification process is now exclusively handled by the One-Stop Shop that initially issued the building permit. This integration is designed to streamline oversight, minimize bureaucratic handoffs, and ensure continuity from permit issuance through to project completion. By centralizing this critical function, the government aims to reduce potential delays and inconsistencies that can arise from involving multiple agencies. The One-Stop Shop, functioning as a central point of contact, thus assumes a broader role in monitoring adherence to established standards and regulations throughout the project lifecycle, providing a single, accountable entity for compliance.
In instances where a compliance certificate is rejected, the project owner retains the fundamental right to appeal. The decree specifies that such appeals must be lodged before the National Committee for Investment Appeals. This mechanism provides a formal and structured avenue for recourse, allowing project owners to challenge unfavorable decisions and seek further review from a dedicated national body. This ensures a transparent and structured resolution process for disputes related to compliance, safeguarding investor interests and promoting confidence in the regulatory system. The establishment of this committee shows the government's commitment to fairness and due process in investment-related matters.
