Legislative Changes Strengthening Land Ownership Rights

The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, has signed into law a new bill that amends the Civil Code and reinforces the rights of honest land buyers.

This information was reported on the Parliament's website.

According to the document, if more than ten years have passed since the illegal seizure of land, the state or communities will no longer be able to reclaim these parcels. This includes forests, waterfronts, and other natural areas.

If a court rules to return the land within ten years of its seizure, the state or community must compensate the new owner the market value. However, the law does not provide for compensation to the state or community itself.

At the same time, there are exceptions: the law does not apply to strategic lands, critical infrastructure, cultural heritage sites, and protected areas. Activists point out gaps in the wording that could hinder their reclamation.

"The formulations proposed in the draft law could complicate the return of property and lands in temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine," — noted the organization "Chesno".

Activists also emphasize that the boundaries of many protected or historical lands are still not defined in the State Land Cadastre, risking the loss of legal mechanisms for reclaiming such assets.

Also read: The Echo of Mazepa's Case: What Lies Behind the Request to Protect Business from Law Enforcement.

Reminder:

The Verkhovna Rada has adopted bill No. 12089, establishing a ten-year period after which property (land or buildings) cannot be reclaimed from a bona fide purchaser if it previously belonged to the state or was communal.