1.1 History of the planning system

Local town building plans and building regulations are the early town planning tools. Town planning regulation was started to solve fire security, sanitation, military protection, street regulation order, reduction of building constructive parameters and other collective civic problems. Spatial planning most rapidly developed in large urban centres, especially in Riga City. The earliest normative acts in the territory of Latvia which indirectly regulated spatial planning were building regulations adopted by city local governors. For instance in Riga such rules exists since 1293 - they were adopted after a destructive fire in the city. Riga building regulations organized the chaotic construction and fostered transition from yard construction to perimeter construction with brick and gable type buildings inside the defensive city wall. 

First extensive spatial plans were developed in 17th century. Earlier Riga and its suburbs spatial pattern was irregular pattern of streets inside walls and bastions. In 1632-1650 Swedish war engineers prepared several construction projects for suburbs. In 1652 Riga suburb construction project (proposal of J. Rodenburg) envisages a regular grid of streets, typical for Europe, especially Sweden at that time. This plan had a significant impact on the future development of Riga city's central part. In the 17th century water pipelines also was established in the central part of the Riga City. First urban public park Viesturdarzs was established in 1711.

The decision of the Russian War Board of 1746 stated, that suburban buildings have to be moved for 800 m from the city defensive walls and that brick and stone buildings are inadmissible in the suburbs. In 1812 all Riga suburbs built-up with wooden buildings were burned down as a prevention measure for the possible offence of Napoleon's army (that however did not reached Riga). This civil disaster fostered rapid development of residential suburbs that gained a new planned pattern. In accordance with the Riga Building and Reconstruction Plan (by engineer I.Truzson in 1813 and so called Paulucci plan in 1815 prepared by the supervision of Fillip Paulucci (1779-1849), the Italian origin General Governor of Baltic Provinces).  At the same time Paulucci were involved in the Dinaburg or Daugavpils citadel reconstruction on the coast of River Daugava - a new master plan is prepared based on the inventory of existing information and resources available; in the plan special attention is paid to the flood protection measures.

Riga Building and Reconstruction Plan determined the urban development in 19 century. It envisaged the rational arrangement of suburbs with regular urban block pattern in the fan-shaped street grid; it also included urban environment improvements and beautification - public buildings were erected. In 1913 Riga Suburban Greenery Committee is established that promoted that tree plantations along streets are created and new public parks are established - Vermanes Garden (1817) and Arkadia (1852). Public gardens, parks and forest parks establishing in cities and towns are important aspects for urban development and it has long traditions in Latvia.

In 1820 Riga city and suburban building regulations were published which defined differently regulated building in zones and the obligatory usage of sample facades in the whole city. Till 1857 the construction of stone buildings in Riga suburbs was forbidden due to the military strategic reasons, even the height of stone fundaments was limited, and the transport connections between the central part and suburbs of the city were obstructed on purpose.

With the permission of the Russian central government to liquidate the fortress and to levelled walls the chief architect of Riga J.D.Felsko (1813-1902) and German origin, later chief architect of Jelgava City O. Dietze (1832-1890) prepared the reconstruction plan's project of the central part of Riga which was confirmed in 1857. This plan included the complex construction of new urban centre with defined functional zoning (Krastiņš, 1988:34). When fortifications of Riga City was removed a large vacant area appeared, in 1860 Riga City Council issued regulations for the construction of this area that allowed buildings constructed from fire resistant materials, but there was forbidden to build warehouses and industrial buildings. The usage of building materials, shape, volume, technical constructions and the width of streets was regulated.

With the issuing of the law of Russian Empire of 1866 on the parish administration in Baltic provinces (it was into force till 1918) the number of rural municipalities were decreased, the elections of self-government meeting took place and administration institutions which since then were responsible for all the significant local issues were established. In accordance with the law of 1877 on the ascription of the statutes of Russian cities of 1870 to the Baltic provinces the city municipality reform and elections took place in 1878. It has to be noted that these first city municipalities represented a very small number of inhabitants - tax bearers. For example in Riga City local male inhabitants had rights to vote from 25 years if they owned real estate liable to taxes in the city territory or they paid trade or industrial taxes - in 1878 there were 5.2 thousand of approximately one hundred fifty permanent inhabitants.

Along with city municipal reform the reorganization of urban administration took place. Riga city building administration was reorganized in accordance with the demands of rapidly growing industrial city. The newly developed Construction Committee which started its work in 1879 had responsibilities to control private and public building designing and construction as well as to supervise public use territories, greenery, urban utilities construction and maintenance. In scattered instances the Construction Committee prepared projects of urban infrastructure and buildings by itself. In 1913 there were 61 staff employees in the Construction Committee of Riga City.

Year of 1889 was significant for the arrangement of real estate system when in Baltic provinces there were developed Land Register departments at magistrate's courts. These departments were renewed after the Soviet period of inactivity (1941-1991) and continue to act at present - each property section included information on the location, total area, the division by land utilization types, owners, easements and mortgages.

Step by step town planning moved away from the centralized control in the impact of economic development. Up to 1890ties in the Russian Empire part of which was also the territory of Latvia there was the law into force adopted in 1785 that stated as follows: "The city is constructed in accordance with the coordinated plan which is signed by the Imperial Majesty". By the end of the 19 century this paragraph of the law got a new wording: "Cities are constructed only in accordance with the plans which are harmonized in the order stated". In accordance with this order the ordinance plans for building were confirmed by the local province board. In reality very often cities did not have harmonized building ordinance plan. Riga differed from other cities of the Russian Empire as it had its own special building regulations that were mentioned in the Building Regulations of the Russian Empire. In the beginning of the industrialization period there was no confirmed city master plan but there were detailed building regulations, for example, Riga City had elaborated and accepted building regulations in 1867, 1881 and 1904. These were often supplemented by many temporary ordinances, restrictions and annexations. "All these documents promoted the appropriate development of functional zoning and spatial structure in built up part and harmonized and uniform urban environment" (Krastiņš 1988: 63).

In the City's Building Board surveyor R. Štegmanis (1844-?), chief city architect R. Schmaeling (1840-1917) and chief city engineer G.A. Agthe (1850-1906) prepared Riga Master (Building) Plan which was finished in 1881 but there was no possibility to confirm the plan in the circumstances of the Empire of Russia.

R. Štegmanis and G.A. Agthe continued the work and published the Programme of the City Central Part's General Building Plan in 1885. In the programme of the building master plan there was justified the necessity to realize the functional zoning of the city, determining territories for industrial enterprises, residential areas and recreation as well as develop the single transport communication system. It consisted of two parts - necessary building principles and necessary transport organization principles that suggested that all streets should be categorised by trunk roads (designed for transit), urban importance roads (designed for traffic among urban districts) and local roads (designed for inner urban quarter traffic and pedestrians). Building principles proposed to reserve territories for public buildings in the future and requirements its best location - to place the construction sites at the urban plazas, to build detached buildings with good light distribution and air ventilation and to plant greenery in the vacant part of the land plot. "It was underlined that greenery is not only the green adornment of the city but also the source of good air quality and they are necessary for public recreation" and "the space for public parks and gardens has to be ensured in all future built-up districts" (Krastiņš 1988: 58). It was suggested to divide residential quarters in two groups - with open and close building type. The Programme of Building Plan such important aspects of modern urban planning were included - housing for inhabitants and organisation of labour, recreation and transport (Krastiņš 1988:58).

Riga City Building Board fully approved the programme, although the City Council did not confirm the programme for it touched private interests - ‘'comprehend too much, not useful and not rational seems zoning in separated areas for industrial, office and shopping". In 1892 the Building Board prepared the Location Project of Plants and Factories of Riga to improve sanitary conditions of built-up areas and to prevent pollution in the city.  This plan divided all enterprises in four groups based on how noisy and how strongly they polluted the surrounding environment - such enterprises that could be located 1) in any place, 2) only outside city centre, 3) only in scarcely populated areas and 4) outside urbanised areas - and according to this classification the city was divided in three concentric zones. Influenced by industrial magnates, the City Council rejected this project as well (Krastiņš 1988: 60). Only local building plans for the construction of new urban districts were prepared if there was such need. In the leadership of chief surveyor R. Štegmanis the land regulation project of the Old Riga was elaborated in 1904, it was confirmed by the Russian government but it received objections from the local society and experts as it intended to tear down old buildings.

In the period between 1897 and 1913 Riga City had very rapid growth, it was the third most important industrial centre in Russian Empire - the number of population increased by  88%, for them on the basis of private capital 3-6 storeys high tenement houses were constructed. In order to control this fast urban growth Riga Building Regulations were prepared and adopted in 1904 that were into force till 1940 and served as an example for the preparation of building regulations of other Latvian towns. "In the 20 century Russia similar building regulations to Riga City had only St. Petersburg but these were with much softer requirements and remained on project level" (Krastiņš 1988:83). Riga Building Regulations of 1904 included concentric urban zoning and street grid and thus sanitary hygienic conditions were improved (Krastiņš 1988:79). First stone building district (Old Riga), second stone building district (avenue circle around Old Riga), and third stone building district (city suburbs) were divided. The heights and density of buildings, street lines, minimal space of yards, insolation, the parts and elements of houses were determined. Riga Building Regulations defined the procedure and coordination of building process; it has a requirement if within one year the building process was not commenced then the building permit had to be asked from the beginning. In the Riga City Building Regulations the newest urban planning ideas were reflected and due to that fact  the construction of the 19th century's second part and the 20th century's first part are spatially particularly uniform" (Krastiņš 1988:84). There is a reference to the first stone building district mentioned in Riga City Binding Building Regulations of 1904 in the Civil Law of 1937 and also in its renewed version of 1992 (Paragraph 1091).

Another important urban planning project is connected with the development of Riga urban parks. In 1859 by implementing the project of A. Vendt, a gardener of Luebeck, Riga City Defence System was substituted with the city channel plantings that in year 1888 were reconstructed by the project of G. F. Kuphaldt (1853-1938), German origin landscape architect. He was also a head of Riga City Council's Garden Board established in 1879. The reconstruction of Riga's urban centre stands out among other European cities of that time with the complex character and consequent realization of town planning ideas.

Riga is one of the first cities within the Russian Empire where garden-city idea was realized - building of villa colony in the pine forest at the coast of Lake Kisezers in Keizarmezs (Kaiserwald, now Mezaparks) based on the ideas of architect E. Kupffer (1873-1919) and implemented under the leadership of construction businessmen G. A. Agthe. It occupied one fifth of total public park's plan (680 ha) and in that it ensured financing for the realization of public functions. Riga City Council allocated financial resources for the newly constructed territory in the pine forest - to construct motor roads, rider and bicycle roads and tramway lines. There were sport grounds and a yacht club established, also the zoo and cemetery were created in 1910. In 1911 there was a detailed plan approved that was prepared by H. Jansen (1869-1945), German architect with the experience in town planning of Berlin, this plan enlarged the developed garden-city in the forest  for additional 40 ha.

There were binding building regulations issued in other cities of Latvia as well; they regulated building location line, their height, the width of the walls and building materials. In the years of 1863-1865 Daugavpils City prepared the Master Plan that similar to Riga had legally binding functional and spatial zoning of buildings. In the middle of the 19th century there were general plans for the largest towns of Latvia prepared - for Jelgava, Liepāja, Ventspils, Rēzekne, Ludza and others. For instance, within the borders of towns in Cesis and Kuldiga all the buildings had to be constructed of fire resistant materials already since 1880. Cities and towns, mostly their central parts get centralized water supply and sewerage, street arrangement, town lighting and public transport in this period. Though living conditions for population were confined - the most wanted and popular was one room flat.

After the establishment of the Republic of Latvia in 1918 the Latvian Parish Constitution Interim Law which determined rights for all inhabitants of age to vote was adopted. In 1922 the Law on Parish Council Elections and Law on Parish Self-Government were adopted. The functions of this parish council included the supervision of the parish municipality's immovable property, to ensure fire security, to foster development, to take care of roads and transport, social issues and arrangement of residential housing issues. In 1919 Interim Regulations on the Elections of City Council's Deputies were adopted. The rights to vote received also all inhabitants of the cities accordingly to the same restrictions as in rural areas.  The decision-making power and executive power were separated in cities as it was done already in rural areas. The supervision rights of state institutions were decreased - the minister of internal affairs had rights to verify decisions of the city council regarding expropriation of immovable property of the municipality, larger volume financing issues and the approval of the city spatial plan. The legality of the municipality activities was checked by the Municipality Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, it had respite veto rights, and only verdicts of the court could withdraw the decisions of the municipalities.

In 1930 the Town Municipality Law was adopted, it determined among other duties the competence of the city regarding preparation of the town building master plans and their control in dense settlements. There were 2/3 of the deputies' votes needed to confirm decisions regarding issues on the city building plan, immovable property and significant financing, and on construction on the land owned by the town. The towns could have their own property and they had pre-emptive right for immovable property at the same moment they were institutions of the public law and could issue binding decisions and orders in its territory, also regarding on town building issues.

In 1927 the laws which strengthened regional municipalities (aprinkis) were adopted - The Law on Election of County Council and Revision Committee and The Law on County Municipality. As the result County Councils were liquidated and County Boards and Revision Committees were elected in direct election by inhabitants. The chairman of the County Board was appointed and financed by the minister of internal affairs. Counties took care of the territory arrangement, also reviewed and confirmed building projects in densely populated areas, controlled legality and expediency of the local municipality activities and carried out the duties of the civil parishes (rural municipalities) which could not be carried out by them, also carried out other tasks.

After the overturn in 1934 county municipalities were liquidated, the political and self-governing activity of town municipalities was stopped and all the tasks were transferred to the executive power and often local officials were appointed by the central government. Parish municipalities were not liquidated but their activities were watched closely and the minister of internal affairs had right to dismiss specific deputies of the council, which was not a democratic process.

Spatial planning process was arranged by the Law on Construction Supervision of 1927 and the Law on Urban Lands of 1928 and the next coming the Regulations on Town Building and Construction Preparation and Preparation Procedure (also 1928). Town building issues were in the competence of the town municipality (council).  Town building and construction plans were submitted to the building administration which issued the resolution coordinated with the central government's Municipality Department and the respective County Board, after that the Ministry of Internal Affairs confirmed it. Great attention was paid to the spatial planning quality issues and land surveying requirements. Although the regulations stated that town building and construction plans should be prepared by architects and building engineers with special licences, in fact often they were prepared by chartered surveyor as there was a lack of knowledgeable urban planners.

In the Ministry of Agriculture a special town building bureau was established. In this bureau worked architects P.Kundzins (1888-1983), V.Feizaks (1885-?) and building engineer E.Veiss (1886-1966), as consultants also urban engineering infrastructure specialist M.Bimanis (1864-1946), and main engineer of Riga City D. fon von Rennenkampf (1863-1929) and architect K.Peksens (1859-1928) with the purpose to assist in preparing the spatial plans of small towns and villages in whole Latvian territory (Krastiņš,1992 33). In 1922 Bimanis wrote that the preparation of town construction plans have to be methodologically supervised as from their development „the health and in greatly also economic welfare are depending. We cannot save too much money on these aspects as in future it will make ample pay back".

In 1936 Building Regulations for Dense Settlement Sites was adopted by the central government and these regulations refer to towns and villages that did not adopted their own building regulations by the local government.  For instance, there was requirement that land subdivision cannot be in smaller plots as 1000 m2. Although in existing land plots if they were smaller than 1000 m2 it was possible to built-up if these land plots was bordering to publicly used street or plaza, or connected with at least 3m wide road maintained by the land plot's owner. It was also regulations on the height of the buildings, the distances between buildings and for gardens. Also the requirement that each land plot in towns in villages should be fenced and requirements on which type of fences are permitted was in these Cabinet regulations. Particular attention was paid to the sanitary conditions, water management and fire security. Cabinet of Ministers national policy of 1936 included the policy aims for spatial planning - "preparing building and expansion spatial plans and developing towns, the work has to be a) replacing old ugly buildings with beautiful, but also cost-effective new buildings, b) creating better sanitary hygienic conditions, d) improvement of transport streets, roads and pavements, and d) constructing market places with all possible utilities (easy access, buildings, shelters, etc.)"( Ministry of Interior /Iekslietu ministrija, 1938: 19-20).

After proclamation of the Republic of Latvia there was Town Building Office established in 1925 to ensure the development of the modern metropolis - Riga. It was lead by town-planner and architect A. Lamze (1889-1945). Riga maintained its administration structure including building department which was the direct legal successor of the Construction Committee, and also the archive of geodesic materials and design and planning projects. Already in 1924 elaboration of Riga General Plan was started. Additionally A. Lamze elaborated the Master plan of Great Riga Construction, taking into the account vast areas of Riga city land properties outside the its administrative territory, which would allow development of Riga as a garden city with low store residential houses with the total number of inhabitants up to one million and a half. This plan was rejected as unrealistic one and there were also objections from the society. The prepared Riga City Master Plan, detailed plan of its central part and new building regulations were submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers in 1937 for approval These Riga planning documents envisaged wide range improvements for the urban transport system, building on vacant territories and reconstruction of the Old City, destroying part of the historical heritage.

In 1938 all the 60 towns of Latvia had (binding) building rules. The three smallest towns they were not confirmed yet but such were elaborated also for 24 largest villages. Almost all the building regulations were prepared in the connection with town master plans and the respective zoning.

For spatial planning in country territories a significant role played the Agrarian Reform performed in the territory of Latvia in 1920 -1937. As the result the State Land Reserve was created which was later distributed to population by selling for a symbolic price in general not more than 50 ha for each person. The aim of the Agrarian Reform was to develop family type farmsteads with two horses and the agricultural land of 22 ha in average. Farmsteads established before the reform retained land property up to 100 ha. The reform which was carried out grounding on the principles of social justice and legality strengthened private property on land, fostered personal initiative, reformed large scale farms, liquidated historically developed unnecessary servitudes; and public, culture and other needs provided with the land resources. After the independency in 1991 the purpose of the post - soviet Land Reform was to renewed situation with property rights as it was on 1940. In the result in 2000 the average area of the farm was 23,5 ha.

After joining Latvia to the territory of the Soviet Union the transformation to the planned economics took place, the immovable property was nationalized, the entrepreneurship was under control. There were two type properties in USSR - 1) socialistic (all people) including property of trade unions and other public organizations and 2) the properties of cooperatives and collective farms.  In 1978 in the Constitution of Latvian SSR there was stated that the private property includes personal belongings, comfort and household things, residential building and savings from the work. Citizens could also utilize land plots which were given for the subsidiary farms (also for keeping of domestic animals), fruit and vegetable gardens and individual construction of housing but this land could not be used against public benefit. The spatial development was influenced by the Soviet principle to foster and strengthen the uniformity of the society - with the disappearance of different society classes, differences between town and country and mental and physical work and towards the approximation of national differences. The declared rights for work, social protection, health, education, socialistic culture achievements and duties of citizens to protect nature and maintain ideologically sorted cultural heritage were included in the objectives and tasks of the spatial development plans and partially some of them were implemented.  

Along with the loss of Latvia sovereignty in 1940, the reorganization of local municipal administrations took place. For instance, in Riga City construction matters were taken over by the Chief Architect's Board. Together with an increase of work load the Architecture and Construction Unit was established, and later on Riga General Architecture Board (with up to 220 employees at the end of the Soviet period). The Riga City Geodesic Centre and Technical Archive were maintained up to this moment.  Spatial planning was carried out partly by architects in Riga City and partly by centralized planning offices in state design institutes.

Already in 1945 town planning of Riga is renewed and the Master Plan Scheme is finalized in 1947. It focused on war damages in Old Riga. There was building prohibition in the centre of the city with the purpose to provide time to carry out more detailed researches. The green zone was developed in 30 km diameter around Riga and the protection regime was determined. The new town building regulations of 1947 restricted the individual initiative in building which has been grow apace with the aim to liquidate war damages.

In Riga City Master Plan of 1955 (leaded by the architect J. Vasiljev) there was accent on the individual one-family residential buildings retained, it also determined the development of technical infrastructure outside the centre in order to develop residential districts in suburbs The government's decision of 1956 stated restrictions for the city development at the same moment fostering the development of satellite cities and ensuring them with the respective spatial plans. In 1957-1959 the Riga Suburbs Planning Scheme was prepared. It has three zones - suburb zone in two forest park zones - 1) up to 5 km and 2) - from 5 km to 10 km and 3) the green zone (in 30 km radius from the city). There were special regulations regarding what kind of building objects and activities are permitted. In the Soviet planning suburban zone was considered as a organic part of the urban system and where necessary functions for the city located - suburban agriculture enterprises, industrial enterprises directly connected with the urban infrastructure and utilities, recreation, education, science and health protection objects, transport ring roads (Gosstroj USR, 1985). It was stated that new industrial enterprises must be located in the cities where the number of inhabitants is less than 250000 though this norm was not observed very often.

To prevent personal initiative of several well known planning specialists and their wishes to plan taking into the account local conditions, the spatial planning was concentrated in large centralized state institutes. In 1957 the Soviet Government decided to start industrial construction. In Riga suburb Garkalne the first factory of the reinforced concrete building elements started its work in 1957.

By the decision of 1962 regarding the eradication of differences between country and town the construction of high-raised multi-apartment buildings were encouraged to build in rural areas. In 1965 the Soviet Government took a decision to foster regional planning process. In 1966 Riga Suburban Zone Master Plan is prepared and its planning principles were repeatedly accepted in the planning documents of 1972, 1976 and 1978.

In the Riga City Master Plan of 1969 which was prepared in cooperation with the planning institutes of Moscow and Leningrad there was a focus on large (it was planned 100 - 150 000 inhabitants in each district) residential districts with industrially produced high raised multi-apartments buildings located in the complexly planned areas to have in each industrial zone, residential area and recreation area. It was planned to locate these new residential districts outside the central part of city, utilizing vacant or sparsely inhabited areas. The construction of these districts was almost completely realized - prefabricated residential building districts were built in Jugla, Kengarags, Purvciems, Imanta, Plavnieki, Zolitude, Ziepniekkalns, etc. On lower scale such prefabricated residential building districts appeared almost in all Latvian towns and in some rural places (close to military sites or mineral resources).

Riga Master Plan for the period 1981- 2005 was prepared in the period of 1978-1983 (the chief architect G. Melbergs) based on cooperation among scientists and planners of Latvian and all-Soviet Union state planning and research institutes.

The regulations of that time required that the city master plan or complex long-term urban construction project had to be based on the schemes of productive force (resources) and settlement pattern of Latvian SSR and of Riga Economic Region's regional planning. New Riga Master Plan retained had retained connections with the previous spatial plan. It was supplemented with the detailed plans for the regeneration of Old Riga Historical Centre and for the development of public centres. Another annex of the Riga Master Plan was also Suburban Districts Scheme that covered vast territories in the 60 km radius outside the Riga City's administrative border. 56 Latvian towns had Master Plans into force in 1981. Their improvement was centralized planned and carried out in the town planning institute of the central government.

In 1970ties the regional planning was fostered - in 1976 the Latvian SSR Regional Planning Scheme for the period 1976-2000 is prepared with the objective to develop a single system of the settlement sites in the frame of 8 economic regions with the centres in Riga, Liepaja, Daugavpils, also in Ventspils, Rezekne, Valmiera, Jekabpils un Gulbene. The Regional Planning Scheme dealt with spatial development problems from the economic (rational use of resources), social (optimal work, living, recreation conditions in all settlement site despite its size), architectonic planning design (development regarding environment, landscape and transport taking into the account territorial capacity of cities) and ecological (pollution, concentration capacity) aspects.

In the Soviet period spatial planning was carried out by centralized specialized planning and designing state institutes. At the beginning a great role was given to All-Soviet Union planning institutes and planners. Later it was permitted to perform spatial planning at greater degree at the institutes located in Latvia and local architects and town planning specialists, though they were always under control. Master plans of towns and cities were prepared by the Latvian State Town Building and Planning Institute "Pilsetprojekts" (established in 1951). The Latvian State Country Building and Planning Institute "Lauku projekts" (established in 1951 prepared planning and building design projects for villages and building model projects and also prepared construction designs for rural residential, public and industrial buildings.  

In 1960ties a significant role in the rural planning development played decisions of the Soviet Union Communistic Party Central Committee regarding planning processes strengthening and country building industrialization as pre-conditions of rural development acceleration. In 1981 the 26th congress of Soviet Union Communistic Party favoured the development of agrarian industrial complex - it fostered construction of industrial buildings in rural areas. For the purpose of rural population concentration that in Latvia mainly (approx. 60%) lived in one family residential houses in scattered farmsteads and small villages, the decree of the Latvian SSR of 1982 in total  669 villages were listed that were approved as perspective for the further development. The borders of these perspective rural settlements were approved by the Council of Ministers of the Latvian SSR. Other rural settlement sites were depicted on the internal land arrangement projects prepared by the Ministry of Agriculture's Land Survey and Planning Institute "Zemesprojekts" approved by the respective rural district executive power. Any economical of settlement development other as perspective villages was not possible.

Latvian SSR State Territorial Industrial Enterprise Design and Planning Institute "Rupnicprojekts" prepared not only building and infrastructure design projects but also industrial cluster's master plan schemes and industrial enterprise location's schemes, participated in the preparation process of industrial development and productive force (resources) location schemes. Additionally to the mentioned institutes also specialised institutes of Latvia and All-Soviet Union were involved in the preparation of spatial plans, for example, in the field of transport, energy and infrastructure planning.

Soviet spatial planning was brought under planned economic conditions. It was determined by the planning norms and normative acts of USSR. The significant role played defensive zones (shelterbelts) or determined distances for different needs. Both provision of services and design of territories were regulated by planning norms which were based on the number of inhabitants as well as the preconditions of industrial building norms. In accordance with detailed centrally approved building regulations the master plans of all towns and largest villages were elaborated and regularly updated. Also different region plans and economic sectoral development schemes were prepared based on the unified Soviet regulations and norms.

 

Figure II.1.1 Interconnectedness of soviet planning documents and the sequence of drafting  - 1), 2), 3) and 4) and no sequence, which was into force till 1991 (source: Buka un Volrāts, 1987).
 

From today's point of view spatial plans of the Soviet period and their proposals to zoning, transport planning and infrastructure have to be corrected as they did not take account the ownership structure and public opinion.  Often the implementation of these sometimes quite detailed plans was weak. The plan was accessible only for official use for managers and listed specialists and not for public. All the cartographic materials were secret because of the military reasons. Because of these reasons the cartographic material for planning needs was misconstrued with purpose. If information regarding plans was published it was general and schematic with no scale.

Formally the prepared spatial plans in the end of the Soviet period were confirmed by the local deputy councils which, although formally were elected by inhabitants, were not true self-governments - the deputy candidate nomination was not democratic, these candidates were agreed by the Communistic Party's bureaus  and selected by needed criteria, these candidates did not have rivals and the elected councils did not have real power as all the decisions were coordinated with the local, sometimes central bureaus of the Communistic Party (Vanags un Vilka, 2005:109 p).

Local town planning and architecture traditions were retained also during the Soviet period. From the second half of the 1960-ies increasingly significant becomes the maintenance of the architectural and urban planning heritage. Contrary the policy of the Soviet government support to the concentrated and industrial multi-apartment housing urban planning the Latvian planning specialist studied and published articles on urban planning ideas and achievements in previous periods, the development of urban building of 1860-1914 was highly valued. Inventories of cultural and nature monuments was carried out and wider society was involved more often. In 1979 the Old Riga City Renovation Project was prepared. In 1986 the historical ensembles of urban centres in 26 towns were protected.  In 1973 the Gauja National Park was founded, its statutes and master plan with functional zoning were approved with the purpose to protect and utilize nature and cultural heritage and landscape in a complex way.

Relevant institutions

History of Riga City Development Department:  www.rdpad.lv/about/history

Latvian Architecture Museum:  www.archmuseum.lv

State Inspection of Culture Monuments:  www.mantojums.lv

State Nature Protection Administration:  www.dap.gov.lv

Gauja National Park www.gnp.lv

Despite spatial planning traditions the current spatial planning system developed after independency in 1991. Retaining some elements from the soviet planning practice and renewing several elements from the pre-soviet period the current planning system in Latvia mostly is based on the application of the foreign experience in concordance with the constitutional system of Latvia.

After the regaining of the independency, the great attention was paid to the establishment of comprehensive, decentralized, democratic and public spatial planning system. The involvement of society in the spatial planning process was considered as the continuity of the general public interest in development processes in the middle of 1980-ies. Civil society activities (publications, meetings, demonstrations etc.) against the construction of Daugavpils Hydroelectric Power Station on River Daugava and metro in Riga and also environmental pollution caused by a paper-mill of Sloka near the Baltic Sea later turned into the popular movement towards independency at the end of 1980-ies. It was possible in the framework of the new USSR initiatives Openness (Glastnostj) and Reconstruction (Perestroika).

Changes in the environment protection and spatial planning system were marked out by the Law "On State Ecological Expertise" which was adopted by the Superior Council of the Republic of Latvia in 1990. The law stated that state ecological expertise is based on the legality, complexity, science justification and publicity principles in its work and also on the integral evaluation of social, engineer technical, nature protection, environment planning, economic and other aspects as well as general evaluation regarding the total impact on the environment and international obligations of the Republic of Latvia. Shortly afterwards adopted laws "On Town Self-Government" and "On Rural (Civil Parish) Self-Government" (24.04.1991) supplied legal framework for the democratic municipality activities in urban and rural local level municipalities. Law "On Rural Self-Government" determined that in the competence of rural municipality is the supervision of planning and building of densely populated sites and territories. The law of the transition period of 1991 determined that a Rural Self-Government Council has right to confirm regulations and has the administrative responsibility for their trespass regarding construction in the densely populated areas; the maintenance of land, forest, water and protected nature and culture objects; the maintenance of buildings and their territories, public buildings and structures; greenery, tidiness and utilities of settlement areas; water use and landscape protection; location of commercials and other issues which are not contrary with the laws of the Republic of Latvia; also that Rural Self-Government Council can delegate rights to confirm economic, social development and environment protection perspective programmes and master plans (or spatial plans) of the densely populated areas and their amendments to the Rural Self-Government Board.

In its turn the Law "On Town Self-Government" stated that in its competence is building planning and control, that only Town Council in its session can confirm the master plan, also to allocate and take away land as it is stated by the law. Town Council has rights to confirm rules and envisage administrative responsibility for their trespass regarding building of the densely populated areas; the maintenance of land, forest, water and protected nature and culture objects; the maintenance of buildings and their territories, public buildings and constructions; sanitary cleanness of populated areas; arrangement of the territory of populated areas; greenery maintenance; water utilization and landscape protection; location of commercials and other issues which are not contrary with the laws of the Republic of Latvia; also that Town Council can delegate to the Board rights to approve urban economic and social development and environment protection perspective programmes and to take decisions regarding utilization and protection of urban land, earth entrails, water, forest and other nature resources, to confirm spatial plan schemes and projects of the town.

Land Reform process took place in line with the efforts to gain independency and renew the republic establishment of 1918. Society did not have common understanding on the aims and tasks of land reform, its procedure and speed of the implementation, on protection of the needs of the state and general public, on legatees and debts and mortgages on the land, as well as minimal and maximal size of the established land plots as the result of the land reform (Boruks, 2001: 266-267).

Following the tradition of the previous years there were adopted different laws regulating land reforms in cities and country areas. The law "On Land Reform in Rural Areas in Republic of Latvia" of 1990 and the Law "On Land Privatization in Rural Areas" of 1992 did not require spatial plans for municipalities in rural areas. Several conditions were determined to rearrange land usage and property legal, social and economic relations in the country in the process of step by step privatization to foster the resumption of the traditional country lifestyle of Latvia, ensure utilization and protection of nature and other resources, maintenance and increase of soil fertility, increase production of qualitative agricultural products, to create pre-conditions for one-family detached house safeguarding and renewal, ensure development of individual farms and household plots in accordance with the rational land use plan and retain the land areas for its current users to use public buildings and industrial objects in line with the currently envisaged land use purposes; to determine the area of the land which is not used for agriculture in accordance with the envisaged norms and project documentation. It was stated by the law that these are land survey (allotment) projects of rural municipalities which are prepared by the Land Survey State Institute "Zemesprojekts" in cooperation with Rural Self-Governments Councils. In the amendments of 1992 there was stated the land survey (allotment) project has to be submitted for the public inspection at least two weeks before its examination at the Rural Self-Government Land Committee and information regarding public participation opportunities has to be placed in the district newspaper. If local rural land users, claimants and inhabitants have objections against specific project solutions they have to submit them in written form within ten days after the end of the project display to the public. Rural Self-Government Land Survey (Allotment) Project is reviewed at the Rural Self-Government (Civil Parish) Land Committee and is confirmed by the Rural Self-Government Public Deputy Council after the harmonization with the District Land Committee.

The fact that rural land arrangement projects actually the spatial plans had to be drafted in the country areas with emphasis on land subdivision for land owners was kept as long term historic practice, including one from the Soviet period. A problem occurred in urbanised rural areas where in densely populated areas simplified planning order was used. Another problem occurred later when a hierarchic spatial system was established, the land reform laws were not amended and there was dual planning system for a certain period of time - one was based on land subdivision projects which were drafted under the control of State Land Service and Land Reform Committee and another on the spatial plans where the leading state administration institutions were the Ministry of Environment Protection and Regional Development and the state institution responsible for the control of self-governments (this institution frequently changed its subordination until 2003 when the Ministry of Regional Development and Local Government was established). Nowadays due to the fact that land reform is almost finished and State Land Service is under reform the land survey (allotment) projects are not considered as documents any more which have similar functions and content to the spatial plans and certain function duplication with the spatial planning system is gradually prevented.

Contrary to the country territories in city and town areas the laws "On Land Use and Survey" and "On Land Reform in Towns of Republic of Latvia" marked out the role of the spatial planning and stated that during the land reform town councils are drafting economic and social development programme of the town and in accordance with it prepare or correct the master plan where land use types and utilization requirements are defined. This policy was based on the fact that there was greater needs and longer history of urban spatial policy. The law "On State and Municipality Land Property Right and Its Consolidation in the Land Register" of 1995 states that preparing a note on the state and municipality land plots for the construction of new objects or territory utilization to implement state and municipality functions the justification of the master plan or the land arrangement project has to be submitted, this show that both terms were used for the spatial plan at that time.

The Ministry of Architecture and Construction established in the beginning of 1992 which tasks were to implement state policy in the spatial planning, construction, building (except roads and bridges), production of building materials, geology, urban environment and its protection, housing and public utility sectors was liquidated after the 5th elections of Parliament (Saeima) in the summer of 1993 and partly its functions, employees and archive were incorporated within the Regional Development Department and Construction Department of the newly established Ministry of the Environment Protection and Regional Development. The idea to bring together regional development, spatial planning, environment protection and resource management (except forests and fish resources - they retained in the competence of the Ministry of Agriculture) issues was grounded on the United Nations initiative of 1992 regarding fostering of the sustainable development. Initially in the structure of the Regional Development Department were Spatial Planning Unit, Urban Environment and Housing Unit and Tourism Infrastructure Unit. The Building Department contained Building Strategy Unit, Unit of Norms and Resource Economy and Housing and Public Utilities Unit.

At the beginning of 1990ties state administration policy was to foster municipality initiatives in its spatial planning. Most rapidly spatial planning developed in large city and district municipalities, especially in Jurmala and Riga cities and Riga district. In the planning institutions of large (republican) cities and district municipalities there were specialists of the respective qualification. City and district administrations and specialists inherited the urban and regional planning experience from previous political periods. In large cities spatial planning was also a necessity as more rapid development than in other areas of the country occurred.

With the adoption of the law "On Self-Governments" of 1994 the municipal system and municipal structures were reorganized. Including Riga City Council structural units were reorganised and in supervision of the City Development Committee the Development Department was established. It is considered that the Building Board - the structural unit of the Development Department has overtaken building process supervision and urban planning traditions which are almost 130 years old.

The law "On Self-Governments" of 1994, Regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers no.194 "Spatial Planning Regulations" of 1994 and the Building Law of 1995 served as a legal basis for the spatial planning development within the state. The Spatial Planning Regulations of 1994 defined the spatial planning system, state and municipality competence as well as public involvement within the spatial planning process. There was also determined that spatial planning includes the planning of all type constructions, transport and other engineering communication lines, utilities, landscape development, building demolitions, also other territory utilizations and development measures. This normative document was prepared in the framework of the wide discussions among municipality specialists, planners, architects and environment protection specialists, grounding on the historical traditions and taking into the account Soviet planning experience and overtaking foreign, mostly Nordic and German experience.

Regional Development Department of the Ministry of Environment Protection and Regional Development and the Latvian Association of Municipalities fostered different demonstrations and pilot projects within municipalities in the field of spatial development planning. Spatial planning specialists in the framework of different assistance and cooperation programmes got introduced with the achievements of spatial planning in the west. A significant role played a professional experience exchange of planning specialists, also demonstrations and pilot projects from 1994 till 2000, especially technical support to organizations and individuals by Canada Urbanization Institute and national and regional governments, development assistance organizations and public institutions of Denmark, Finland, Germany, Sweden, Belgium and Netherlands. Great input for the democratization and modernization of the spatial planning gave planning specialists of Latvian origin from Canada, Sweden, Australia and Germany. A significant role also played documents of the Council of Europe regarding spatial development, especially its recommendation "European Regional/Spatial Planning Charter" or Torremolinos Charter of 1984. Since 1993 for the setting down development directions of the Latvian planning system there is important role of planning specialists cooperation performed in the framework of Baltic Sea Region initiative "Vision and strategies around Baltic Sea 2010 - VASAB 2010".

Planning system was applied in accordance with the conditions of Latvian legislation and not a long time ago established systems of environment protection and municipalities. In contradistinction to Western countries where democratic spatial planning system developed after the Second World War, in Latvia democratic spatial planning developed in the second half of 1990ties as the comprehensive and intersectoral system of definition of land use (utilization) purposes. Partly it happened due to environment protection movement which started in the midth of 1980ties. Digesting the best foreign practice, there were many principles included in the normative documents which Latvian society has to digest in practice and they probably have to be adapted to local conditions and needs.

Development of the planning system has been influenced by the strengthening of democracy and also by the development of market economy and the reform of immovable property. Spatial planning system was harmonized with the developed municipality administration system. Spatial planning is considered as a significant tool to ensure environment protection and to implement the publicity (openness) principle in state and municipal administrations. Spatial planning system is one of the tools to implement general land policy within the state.

In the summer of 1995 in the Regional Department of the Ministry of Environment Protection and Regional Development there was Unit of Balanced Development of Regions established. In the autumn of 1995 the Cabinet of Ministers accepted the Guidelines of Latvian Regional Development Policy and in 1997 - the Concept of Regional Development Policy, as well as some other normative documents which determined activities of regional development policy tools and institutions - Regional Development Council was established and Regional Fund was founded which was administrated by State Ltd. "Region Development" since 1998.

For the legal strengthening of the spatial planning other laws which were adopted in this period are also significant. The Building Law of 1995 states that a land plot can be built if it is not in contradiction to city/town or parish master plan, detailed plan, land arrangement (subdivision) project and binding building regulations which include building restrictions for the specific land plots. It was stated by the law that in the competence of local municipalities there is drafting and adoption of the general plan, detailed plan, binding building regulations of the administrative territory and also to control and ensure their compliance. Though the law did not forbid the construction if there was no general plan and detailed plan prepared. A land plot could be constructed if there was a municipality decision taken in the order stated in the central government adopted General Building Regulations. Municipality can also forbid the construction of suggest improvements grounding on the norms which do not allow construction of this kind and also taking into the account public discussion results of the spatial plan and particular building. In the General Building Regulations of 1997 there was stated that if there are no local building regulations in the municipality the Planning and Architecture Task has to be received from the Building Board to get a Building Permit; this document determines specific conditions for planning and construction of a land plot. This practice came from the soviet period when officials could widely interpret the development of the specific territory. The Building Board is the municipality institution established in accordance to the Building Law; it manages and supervises construction in the respective administrative territory. The law regulates that the construction is supervised by the officials of the Building Board which have higher education specialised in construction.

The Law "On Environment Protection" of 1991 and its amendments of 1997 determine that spatial planning is one of the tools to ensure environment protection. The law envisages protective zones of different significance level, they are constructed for the specific cases within the spatial plan but if there is not such they are determined in accordance with normative acts where there is envisaged the minimum width which is stated in the Protection Zone Law of 1997. In the Law "On Environment Impact Assessment" of 1998 with its amendments of 2003 a chapter regarding strategic assessment was included. It is necessary for planning documents which could have a significant impact on the environment or on the Protected Nature Territories of European Significance (Natura 2000). The criteria of the strategic assessment necessity are determined as following: substance of the respective planning document and description of the territory which could have impact on the environment, sensitivity and peculiarities and impact of the implementation of the respective planning document on the particularly protected nature territories, wetlands of international significance, micro-reserves, protection zones of the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Riga, shelterbelts of surface water objects, protected species, their habitats and protected biotopes.

The Agriculture Law of 1996 stated that transformation of land used for agriculture is acceptable only with the permission of the Ministry of Agriculture. In its turn Regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers "Issue Order of Land Transformation Permits" of 1996 pointed out that efficient utilization and management of land resources has to be carried out in accordance with the district and local municipality plans, permissions to carry out afforestation can be issued only in accordance with the plans. In the Forest Law of 2000 there is envisaged that forest management objectives are determined in the spatial plans. In 1992 there was renewed the Law "On Expropriation of Immovable Property for State or Public Needs" of 1936, it states that expropriation of the immovable property is possible only on the basis of the specific law and for compensation grounding on the proposal of municipality or state institution. Information Publicity Law of 1998 points out that information has to be accessible in all cases unless stated otherwise by the law. The way to obtain this information is described in the Law "Examination Order of Applications, Complaints and Proposals in State and Municipal Institutions" of 1994 and in the regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers no. 154 "Administrative Acts Procedure Regulations" of 1995.

In the beginning of 1998 the Cabinet of Ministers accepts the Concept of the National Spatial Plan. It determined the necessity to prepare the national spatial plan, its principles, tasks, structure, and content and preparation procedure. There was Steering Group of the National Spatial Plan established (1998-2002) which was a coordination and advisory institution under the minister of the environment protection and regional development, it ensured relations between state institutions and municipalities. There were representatives from almost all ministries and three municipality representatives which were recommended by the Latvian Municipality Association.

In 1998 new regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers "Spatial Planning Regulations" were adopted, they retained the planning system developed in 1994 specifying it on the basis of the new experience acquired. They determined types of the spatial plans, their structure, content, preparation, coordination, coming into force and repeal procedure. Procedure of the opinion coordination between district and local municipalities was specified and greater attention paid to cooperation between state and municipality institutions in the field of spatial planning. Content of all type spatial plans was harmonized with the conditions of other normative acts. Contrary to previous regulations there was different preparation procedure established for the national and regional planning levels, they had also different principles for the content formation

In the autumn of 1998 Spatial Development Planning Law was adopted, it determined the principles, objectives and tasks of the spatial development planning system, planning actors and their competence, types of spatial development plans, contents of spatial development programmes and spatial plans and their preparation procedure, financing principles for municipal planning, public rights to obtain information, to participate in the spatial development planning process, to express and stand for its opinion. This law stated that the spatial development plan is a set of documents which includes spatial development programme and the spatial plan. Spatial development plan by observing spatial planning principles and pre-conditions, results and expectations of spatial sectoral development analysis determines sustainable development objectives of the territory and strategy for their achievement. Based on the norms of the law in the beginning of 2000 the new regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers was adopted - "On Spatial Plans" which was a specified version of previous provisions especially regarding national level planning.

Spatial Planning Unit and of Urban Environment and Housing Unit were reorganized to the National and Regional Planning Unit and Local Municipal Planning Unit. The tasks related to housing issues were given to the Building Department as the structural change within the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development. In 1999 State Ltd "Spatial Development Planning Centre" was organised under the Ministry of Environment Protection and Regional Development, its objective was to ensure preparation of the national spatial plan and provide guidelines for regional and local municipal spatial planning. In the beginning of 2002 joining the European Union and coordinating regional development policy but at the same time ignoring sustainable development principles regarding state administration institutions and their supervised policies, the Regional Development Department was moved to the Ministry of Finances where there was Regional Development and Planning Board established. In the leadership of the Regional Development and Planning Board the Spatial Development Planning Law of 1998 was splitted in the Regional Development Law and the Spatial Planning Law; both were adopted by Parliament (Saeima) in 2002. In thus regional development planning was separated from spatial planning system.

Location of the spatial planning and regional development institutions in the Ministry of Finances was considered unsuccessful and in the beginning of 2003 the Ministry of Regional Development and Local Governments was organised. In 2007 this ministry among other structures has Spatial Planning Department with Plan Supervision and Plan Methodology units. With the development of the new Ministry and changes within national level spatial policy the Spatial Development Planning Centre stops its activities. The Spatial Planning Archive which was established in the end of 1990ties continues its work in the Ministry of Regional Development and Local Governments. In 2003 Building Department and State Building Inspection, also Tourism Department and Tourism Development State Agency were moved to the Ministry of Economics. In 2002 State Housing Agency was established, it is intended to transform it to the Building, Energy and Housing State Agency.

Large planning and architecture institutes of the Soviet period were privatized in the second half of 1990 decade; mostly they changed specialization as there was no demand for drafting of spatial plans in these years. At the present they episodically get involved in the spatial planning activities.

District municipality existence and functional efficiency is doubted since reestablishment of Latvian independency and it does not foster the stability of district planning. Especially considering that after 2002 the district municipality spatial planning functions are in some aspects duplicated by planning regions. At local level larger municipalities have longer term prospects, particularly city municipalities which do not run under the risk to be amalgamated during the municipality territorial reform; within these large city municipalities spatial planning process is the most developed. These municipalities have more stable finance base, better planning specialists also spatial planning issues are topical and supported by entrepreneurs and inhabitants. Small municipalities partly are late with the spatial plans because of the coming territorial reform, partly because of insufficient finance and human resources as well as because of the insignificant activities which would leave impact on the spatial development. The spatial planning system of Latvia is on the development phase, it improves consequently, and maintaining successity.

 

Normative documents regulating spatial planning:

Title of the normative document

Into force since

Valid (until)

Notes and link to the text of document

Regulations on Procedure of Land Utilization Types Classification and Criteria to Define These Types, no. 562 (adopted 21.08.2007)

25.08.2007

Into force

Determines the classification of land utilization types. Link to text in Latvian www.likumi.lv/doc.php?mode=DOC&id=162207

Procedure of Intended Building Public Discussion, regulations no.331 (adopted 22.05.2007)

26.05.2007

Into force

Determines procedure in which need to organise intended building public discussion is assessed, as well as how intended building public discussion is organised. It supervised by municipality but organised and financed by a developer. Text in English www.em.gov.lv

Construction Information System regulations no.983 (adopted 05.12. 2006)

08.12.2006

Into force

Determines procedure to establish and maintain construction information system for supervision and control of building process. Link to text in Latvian www.likumi.lv/doc.php?id=149303&mode=DOC

Regulations on Establishing Immovable Property Object  no.182 (adopted 20.03.2007)

01.05.2007

Into force

Determines the procedure, documents and terms of establishing immovable property objects. Link to text in Latvian  www.likumi.lv/doc.php?id=154849&mode=DOC

Statutes of the National Development Council, regulations no.129 (adopted 13.02.2007)

23.02.2007

Into force

Collegial advisory authority established with the purpose to ensure a co-ordinated planning and monitoring of State development. Text in English

www.ttc.lv/index.php?&id=10&l=LV&seid=down&itid=15806  

Environment Protection Law (adopted 02.11.2006)

29.11.2006

Into force

Replace alike law from 1991. The objective of the law is to ensure environment quality maintenance and renewal, as well as sustainable utilization of nature resources. Text in English www.ttc.lv

Land Survey Law (adopted 14.09.2006)

01.01.2007

Into force

Defines land survey types, implementation procedure and the rights and responsibilities of involved actors in the land properties organisation. Land survey includes local land survey or allotment plan preparation and establishing of utilization purposes of land plots. Local land survey plans are prepared in accordance to municipal spatial plan in cases if detailed spatial plan is not plan to be prepared.  Link to text in Latvian www.likumi.lv/doc.php?id=144787&mode=DOC

Regulations on Project  Proposal Open Contest  Guidelines for Planning Documents Measure "Local Action Development (LEADER + type measure)" activity "Integrated rural development experimental strategies", no. 601 (adopted 18.07.2006)

08.08.2006

Into force

Regulations are issued in accordance to the European Union Structural Funds Management Law, www.ttc.lv . They defines requirements for development strategies to be able to apply financial support in the priority "Rural and Fishery Development Promotion" measure "Local Action Development (LEADER + type measure)" activity "Integrated rural development experimental strategies". Link to text in Latvian

www.zm.gov.lv/index.php?sadala=886&id=3286

 

Classification of Immovable Property Utilization Purposes and Procedure to Establish and Change Immovable Property Purposes, regulations  no.496 (adopted 20.06.2006)

12.07.2006

Into force

Defines the classification of Immovable Property Utilization Purposes and Procedure to Establish and Change Immovable Property Purposes. Link to text in Latvian www.likumi.lv/doc.php?id=139503&mode=DOC

Procedure of Impact Assessment of European Significance Nature Protection Area (NATURA 2000), regulations no.455 (adopted 06.06.2006)

10.06.2006

Into force

Issued in accordance with the Law "On Environmental Impact Assessment" and the Law "On Protected Nature Areas". Link to text in Latvian www.likumi.lv/doc.php?mode=DOC&id=137104

Regulations on Agricultural Territories of National Significance, no.142 (adopted 14.02.2006)

23.02.2006

Into force

Determines state interests and demands on utilization and development of nationally significant agriculture territories, in order to protect valuable development resources as a part of a national capital. Text in English www.ttc.lv

Procedure on Allocation of Earmarked Subsidies for Preparation of Spatial Plans and their Amendments of Planning Regions, Districts and Local Municipalities, regulations no.121 (adopted 14.02.2006)

18.02.2006

Into force

Link to text in Latvian www.likumi.lv/doc.php?mode=DOC&id=128380

Immovable Property State Cadastre Law (adopted 01.12.2005)

01.01.2006

Into force

The purpose of the Law is to ensure society with updated cadastre information regarding all immovable properties in the State's territory, their objects, parts of land units and their owners, lawful possessors, users, renters, as well as objects of immovable property tax and payers. Text in English www.ttc.lv/index.php?&id=10&l=LV&seid=down&itid=15917  

District Municipality Spatial Planning Regulations no.770 (adopted 11.10.2005)

27.10.2005

Into force

Determines spatial plan's components, preparation of the plan, public participation, entering into force, amendments, evaluation and observation procedure at the district (rajons) municipality level. Text in English www.ttc.lv/index.php?&id=10&tid=60&l=LV&seid=down&itid=15493

Regulations on Building Norms LBN 224-05 "Amelioration systems and hydro technical structures" no. 631 (adopted 23.08.2005)

01.09.2005

Into force

Determines design requirements for new, reconstructed and renewed agricultural lands amelioration systems, forest lands drainage systems, settlements amelioration systems and engineering protection structures and hydro technical structures. www.em.gov.lv

Procedures for Industrial Accident Risk Assessment and Risk Reduction, regulations no. 532 (adopted 19.07.2005)

04.08.2005

Into force

Envisages depicting high risk installations in spatial plans. Text in English www.ttc.lv/index.php?&id=10&tid=60&l=LV&seid=down&itid=13948

Regulations on Detailed Plan Drafting Agreement, Preparation and Financing Procedures, no.367 (adopted 31.05.2005)

04.06.2005

Into force

Determines drafting and financing procedure of detailed plan, as well as conditions that have to be included in the detailed plan's drafting agreement between municipality and other legal body. Text in Latvian www.likumi.lv/doc.php?mode=DOC&id=109619

Planning Region Spatial Planning Regulations no.236 (adopted 05.04.2005)

22.04.2005

Into force

Determines components of planning region's spatial plan, procedure of spatial plan's preparation, public consultation, procedures of legality evaluation, coming into force, amending and observation supervision at the planning region level. Text in Latvian

www.likumi.lv/doc.php?mode=DOC&id=106360

Regulations on Location of Outer Utilities in Towns, Villages and Rural areas no. 1069 (adopted 28.12.2004)

01.04.2005

Into force

Determine location demands for gas, heat and water supply, sewerage, drainage, external pneumatic waste pipes, telecommunication lines, electric power supply lines and facility in cities, towns, villages un and rural areas. These demands are observed preparing and amending spatial plans and detailed plans of local municipalities, preparing planning and architectural tasks, technical terms of reference and also designing building projects. Text in Latvian www.em.gov.lv

Local Municipality Spatial Planning Regulations no.883 (adopted 19.10.2004)

04.11.2004

Into force

Determines components of spatial plan, procedure of spatial plan's preparation, public consultation, and procedures of legality evaluation, coming into force, amending and observation supervision at the local municipality level. Text in English www.ttc.lv

Procedure on Allocation of Earmarked Subsidies for Preparation of Spatial Plans and their Amendments of Planning Regions, Districts and Local Municipalities, regulations no. 848 (adopted 12.10.2004)

20.10.2004

17.02.2006

Link to text in Latvian: www.likumi.lv/doc.php?mode=DOC&id=95161

Forest Land Transformation Procedures, regulations no.806 (adopted 28.09.2004)

02.10.2004

Into force

Determine that land transformation has to be carried out in accordance with the local municipality spatial plan. Text in English: www.ttc.lv

Procedure, How Land Used for Agriculture is Transformed to Non-Agricultural Land Use and How Land Transformation Permissions are Issued, regulations No.619 (adopted 20.07.2004)

29.07.2004

Into force

Determine that land transformation has to be carried out in accordance with the local municipality spatial plan. Link to text in Latvian: www.zm.gov.lv/index.php?sadala=521&id=3430

Procedures for Development, Implementation, Monitoring and Public Discussion of National Development Plan, regulations no. 565 (adopted 29.06.2004)

07.07.2004

Into force

Issued pursuant to the Regional Development Law. Link to text in English: www.ttc.lv/index.php?&id=10&l=LV&seid=down&itid=15709 

Procedure  on Carrying out Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment, regulations no 157 (adopted 23.03.2004)

01.05.2004

Into force

Issued in accordance with the Law "On Environmental Impact Assessment". Link to text in English: www.ttc.lv

Law „On Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters done in Aarhus, Denmark, on 25 June 1998 (adopted 18.04.2002)

26.04.2002

Into force

Promotes public participation during the preparation by public authorities of executive regulations and other generally applicable legally binding rules that may have a significant effect on the environment and during the preparation of plans and programmes relating to the environment, within a transparent and fair framework, having provided the necessary information to the public. Text in English and Latvian: www.likumi.lv/doc.php?id=61586&mode=DOC

Law on the Safety of Goods and Services (adopted 7.04.2004)

01.05.2004

Into force

Determines requirements for safety of services. Link to text in English: www.ttc.lv/index.php?&id=10&l=LV&seid=down&itid=13852  

Agriculture and Rural Development Law (adopted 07.04.2004)

24.04.2004

Into force

Defines that the Cabinet of Ministers has rights to decide regarding the changes in utilization purposes of the land used for agriculture or transformation of rural areas. Link to text in Latvian: www.likumi.lv/doc.php?mode=DOC&id=87480

Regulations regarding the Preservation and Protection of the Historic Centre of Riga, no 127 (adopted 08.03. 2004)

11.03.2004

Into force

Issued pursuant to the Law On Preservation and Protection of the Historic Centre of Riga. Link to text in English: www.ttc.lv/index.php?&id=10&l=LV&seid=down&itid=14256  

Procedure On Evaluation of Intended Action and Its Impact On The Environment, Regulations no.87 (adopted 17.02.2004)

20.02.2004

Into force

Issued in accordance with the Law ""On Environmental Impact Assessment". Link to text in Latvian: www.likumi.lv/doc.php?mode=DOC&id=84537

Local Municipality Spatial Planning Regulations no.34 (adopted 13.01.2004)

31.01. 2004

04.11.2004

Determined components of the spatial plan, order of spatial plan's preparation, public participation, legality evaluation, coming into force, amendments and observation supervision and respite, as well as local municipality's spatial plan's amendments. Link to text in Latvian: www.likumi.lv/doc.php?mode=DOC&id=83729

Regulations on Agricultural Territories of State Significance no.684 (adopted 09.12.2003)

13.12.2003

23.02.2006

Determined state interests and demands for the utilization and development of national level agriculture territories. Link to text in Latvian: www.likumi.lv/doc.php?mode=DOC&id=82054

Law On Preservation and Protection of Historic Centre of Riga (adopted 29.05.2003)

25.06.2003

Into force

Determine Riga historical centre and its protection zones' status, spatial, maintenance, protection, utilization, also development project implementation order and demands for the elaboration of the spatial plan of Riga historical and its protection zones. Link to text in Latvian: www.likumi.lv/doc.php?mode=DOC&id=76001

Procedure on Allocation of Earmarked Subsidies for Preparation of Spatial Plans and their Amendments of Planning Regions, Districts and Local Municipalities, regulations no.150 (adopted 01.04.2003)

05.04.2003

19.10.2004

Link to text in Latvian: www.likumi.lv/doc.php?id=73500&mode=DOC

Statutes of the Ministry of Regional Development and Local Governments, regulations no.56 (adopted 04.02.2003)

08.02.2003

Into force

Determine that it is leading state administration institution of regional policy, municipality supervision and development coordination and spatial planning. Link to text in Latvian: www.likumi.lv/doc.php?mode=DOC&id=71032

Statutes of National Regional Development Council, regulations no.594 (adopted 27.12.2002)

31.12.2002

Into force

Determine that it is collegiate advisory institution, which coordinates state regional development and spatial planning. Link to text in Latvian: www.likumi.lv/doc.php?mode=DOC&id=69791

National Spatial Planning Regulations no.515 (adopted 26.11.2002)

05.12.2002

Into force

Determine the procedure of the drafting, public participation, implementation and supervision of the national spatial plan. Link to text in Latvian: www.likumi.lv/doc.php?id=68992&mode=DOC

Spatial Planning Law (adopted 22.05.2002)

26.06.2002

Into force

Determines spatial planning system, public participation, and spatial plan's hierarchy and preparation procedures. Link to text in English: www.ttc.lv

Regional Development Law (adopted 21.03.2002)

23.04.2002

Into force

The objective of the law is to foster and ensure balanced and sustainable state development, observing all the secularities and opportunities to decrease economic differences between them, also to maintain and develop nature and culture features and development potential of each spatial. Determines the hierarchy of development programs and plans, elaboration and coordination procedures. Text in English: www.ttc.lv 

Procedures for Industrial Accident Risk Assessment and Risk Reduction Measures, regulations no.259 (adopted 19.06.2001)

01.07.2001

03.08.2005

Envisages depicting high risk installations in spatial plans. www.likumi.lv/doc.php?id=25585&mode=DOC

Regulations on Latvian Building Norms LBN 006-00 "Key requirements to buildings", no.142 (adopted 27.03.2001)

31.03.2001

Into force

Determines key requirements to buildings, their parts and constructions in the phase of construction and utilization. Text in Latvian: www.likumi.lv/doc.php?mode=DOC&id=6234

Forest Land Transformation Procedures, regulations no. 94 (adopted 27.02.2001)

02.03.2001

01.10.2004

Determined forest land transformation procedures to non-forest land. Text in English www.ttc.lv

Spatial Planning Regulations no.423 (adopted 05.12.2000)

09.12.2000

31.12.2003

Determined order of spatial plans' elaboration, coordination, coming into force, respite, amendments, public participation, and observation supervision, as well as binding parts of the national level spatial development plan. Link to text in Latvian: www.likumi.lv/doc.php?mode=DOC&id=13407

Regulations on Latvian Building Norms LBN 208-00 "Public buildings and structures" no.411 (adopted 28.11.2000)

01.01.2001

Into force

Defines design requirements to new public premises, buildings and structures, to reconstruction and renewal of existing public buildings as far it is not in conflict with the Law „On Protection of Culture Monuments". Text in English: www.ttc.lv/index.php?&id=10&l=LV&seid=down&itid=14206  

Regulations on Latvian Building Norms LBN 222-99 "Water supply outer network and objects" no.38 (adopted 01.02.2000)

01.06.2000

Into force

Determines designing of new water supply outer network and objects and designing the existing ones for reconstruction. Text in Latvian: www.likumi.lv/doc.php?mode=DOC&id=801

Regulations on Latvian Building Norms LBN 223-99 " Sewage system outer networks and objects" no. 214 (adopted 15.06.1999)

01.10.1999

Into force

Determines designing of new outer sewage system designing and reconstruction of existing ones. www.em.gov.lv

Procedure on Allocation of Earmarked Subsidies for Preparation of Spatial Plans and  Development Programmes, regulations no.187 (adopted 25.05.1999)

28.05.1999

04.04.2003

Link to text in Latvian: www.likumi.lv/doc.php?mode=DOC&id=24725

Statutes of the non profit organization state Ltd. "Spatial Development Planning Centre", regulations no. 107 (adopted 16.03.1999)

19.03.1999

Invalid

The objective of the organization was based on commercial activities to ensure spatial development plan's preparation by observing principles and planning tasks stated by the law. There was envisaged, that the centre will draft  the national spatial plan of Latvia and spatial development plans of special territories, to develop and maintain data base of spatial development planning, it could carry out specific state and municipality orders within spatial development planning. Link to text in Latvian: www.likumi.lv/doc.php?id=22930&mode=DOC

Information Publicity Law (adopted 29.10.1998)

20.11.1998

Into force

Determines that information which is operated by an institution or has to be public in accordance with the competence of the institution has obligations to make accessible to the public. Link to text in English: www.ttc.lv/index.php?&id=10&l=LV&seid=down&itid=13707

Law "On Environment Impact Assessment" (adopted 14.10.1998)

13.11.1998

Into force

The purpose is to prevent or reduce negative impact of the implementation of the intended activities of natural persons and legal persons or of a planning document thereof on the environment. Determines necessity of strategic impact assessment and its procedure for planning documents. Text in English: www.ttc.lv

Spatial Development Planning Law (adopted 15.10.1998)

30.10.1998

26.06.2002

Determined spatial development planning system, which included both spatial planning and elaboration of development programmes. Link to text in Latvian: www.likumi.lv/doc.php?id=51526&rel_doc=on#REL_DOC

Classification of Immovable Properties Utilization Purposes, Cabinet regulations no. 166 (adopted 05.05.1998)

07.05.1998

01.01.2007

Determined the procedure to define and classify utilisation purposes of immovable properties. Text in Latvian: www.likumi.lv/doc.php?id=48031&mode=DOC

Spatial Planning Regulations no.62 (adopted 24.02.1998)

26.02.1998

09.12.2000.

Determined content and composition of territory plans as well as their elaboration, coordination, coming into force, respite and observation supervision order. Text in Latvian: www.likumi.lv/doc.php?id=47075&mode=DOC

Regulations of Public Participation for Buildings no.309 (adopted 02.09.1997)

05.09.1997

Into force

Determine order of the public participation within building permit process. Link to text in Latvian: www.likumi.lv/doc.php?mode=DOC&id=44751

Procedure on Allocation of Earmarked Subsidies for Preparation of Spatial Plans and  Development Programmes for Year 1997, regulations no.144 (adopted 15.04.1997)

18.04.1997

27.05.1999

Link to text in Latvian: www.likumi.lv/doc.php?id=43053&mode=DOC

General Building Regulations no.112 (adopted 1.04.1997)

1.07.1997

Into force

Prescribes the requirements for the preparation of the design of all types of structures (buildings), the development of a construction design. Text in English www.ttc.lv

Protected Zone (Shelter Belts) Law  (adopted 05.02.1997)

11.03.1997

Into force

Determine basic principles of establishing of protected zones and shelter belts, their types and functions, procedure of their maintenance and condition control, as well as economic activities. Text in English www.ttc.lv

Law On Recording of Immovable Property in the Land Registers" (adopted 30.01.1997)

06.03.1997

Into force

This Law prescribes the procedures by which the land regained or privatised by natural persons or legal persons, the land of the State and local governments, as well as apartments and buildings (structures), which are located on this land or in the land, shall be recorded in the land Registers. Link to text in English: www.ttc.lv

Procedure on Allocation of Earmarked Subsidies for Preparation of Spatial Plans and  Development Programmes for Year 1996, regulations no.338 (adopted 27.08.1996)

03.09.1996

18.04.1997

Link to text in Latvian: www.likumi.lv/doc.php?id=63699&mode=DOC

Protected Zones (Shelter Belts) Regulations no.324 (adopted 07.08.1996)

14.08.1996

11.03.1997.

Determine basic principles of establishing of protected zones and shelter belts, their types and functions, procedure of their maintenance and condition control, as well as economic activities. Link to text in English: www.ttc.lv

Regulations on Procedure how to Organize Contests of Building Designs and Detailed Plan Projects no. 324  (adopted 07.11.1995)

16.11.1995

Into force

Link to text in Latvian: www.likumi.lv/doc.php?mode=DOC&id=37865

Building Law (adopted 10.08.1995)

13.09.1995

Into force

Determines the construction system, its participants, responsible institutions and procedures, including the construction system connection with spatial planning system. Link to text in English: www.ttc.lv

Process of Administrative Acts Regulations no. 154 (adopted 13.06.1995)

01.09.1995

Into force

Determine hierarchy of the normative acts and their interpretation. Link to text in Latvian: www.likumi.lv/doc.php?id=35627&mode=DOC

Law "On State and Municipal Land Property Rights and its Registration in Land Register"(adopted 29.03.1995)

25.04.1995

Into force

Determines in accordance to land reform and state and municipal land property privatisation and alienation laws the land property rights of state and municipalities to register in the Land Register. Link to text in Latvian: www.likumi.lv/doc.php?mode=DOC&id=34595

Law "Consideration order of applications, claims and proposals in state and municipality institutions" (adopted 27.10.1994)

05.11.1994

Into force

Link to text in Latvian: www.likumi.lv/doc.php?id=57668&mode=KDOC

Spatial Planning Regulations no.194 (adopted 06.09.1994)

28.09.1994

26.02.1998.

Determined spatial planning content and procedure in accordance to state and municipal administrative levels and their functions irrespective to land ownership types. Link to text in Latvian: www.likumi.lv/doc.php?id=57584&mode=DOC

Law "On Self-Governments" (adopted 19.05.1994)

09.06.1994

Into force

Determines that local (both rural and town) and regional municipalities have duty to prepare and adopt the spatial development programme and the spatial plan of the municipality, to ensure its realization and administrative supervision. Link to text in English: www.ttc.lv 

Order of the Ministry of Architecture and Building no.  50 „Instruction on Family House and Farmstead Design and Planning LBN 209" (order signed 03.05.1993)

03.05.1993

01.01.2006

This interim document prescribed key requirements to detached family house and farmstead design and panning.

Land Register Law (adopted 22.12.1937, renewed 30.03.1993 )

30.03.1993 renewed

Into force

In accordance to this law the immovable (land, house and flat) properties are registered. Link to the text in English: www.ttc.lv

Law „On Nature Protection Territories" (adopted  02.03.1993)

07.04.1993

Into force

Determines system of the particularly protected nature territories, its development and maintenance procedure. Text in Latvian: www.likumi.lv/doc.php?id=59994&mode=KDOC

Order of the Ministry of Architecture and Building no. 118 „Interim Instruction on Parish or Town Construction Master Plan LBN 101" (order signed 28.12.1992 )

28.12.1992

01.01.2006

This interim document determined main requirements to rural parish and town master plans for populated areas. 

Order of the Ministry of Architecture and Building no. 118 „Spatial planning. Town and Country Building LBN 100" (order signed 28.12.1992)

28.12.1992

01.01.2006

This interim document determined main conditions for spatial planning projects, specified objectives and tasks of the construction process. Link to text in Latvian: www.likumi.lv/doc.php?mode=DOC&id=147389

Law "On State Land Service" (adopted on 15.12.1992)

29.12.1992

Into force

Determines that leading institution in the field of land market value assessment, land survey, cadastral register and cartography is State Land Service. Link to text in Latvian:

www.likumi.lv/doc.php?id=62849&mode=KDOC

Decision of the Superior Council „On Entering into force of Law of the Republic of Latvia „On Expropriation of Real Estate for State and Public Needs" (adopted 15.09.1992)

01.10.1992

Into force

Determines conditions to expropriate real estate for state and public needs. Link to text in Latvian: www.likumi.lv/doc.php?id=66330&mode=DOC

Civil Law. Third Part. Ownership and Annex (adopted 28.01.1937, renewed  01.09.1992)

01.09.1992 renewed

Into force

Determines rights to construct and use movable and immovable property. There is a list of public lakes and rivers included in the Annex. Text in English www.ttc.lv 

Law " On Land Privatisation in Rural Areas " (adopted 09.07.1992)

01.09.1992

Into force

Determines the tasks, principles and procedure of land privatisation in rural areas (rural municipalities). Link to text in Latvian: www.likumi.lv/doc.php?mode=DOC&id=74241

Law "On Land Reform in Towns of Republic of Latvia" (adopted 20.11.1991)

20.11.1991

Into force

Determines the tasks, principles and procedure of land reform in towns and cities. Link to text in Latvian: www.likumi.lv/doc.php?mode=DOC&id=70467

Law „On Building Properties Denationalization in Republic of Latvia"(adopted 30.10.1991)

01.01.1992

Into force

Determines building properties denationalization to former owners in rural and town areas to the situation on 17.06.1940. Financial burdens were released.

www.likumi.lv/doc.php?mode=DOC&id=70829

Law „On Land Use and Survey" (adopted 21.06.1991)

10.07.1991

Into force

Protects rights of land users and regulates basic provisions of land utilization. Determined land transformation order. Norms, which duplicated spatial planning system, are currently excluded. Link to text in Latvian: www.likumi.lv/doc.php?mode=DOC&id=67966

Law „On Rural Self-Government" (adopted 24.04.1991)

24.04.1991

09.06.1994

Determined that in the competence of the rural municipality (civil parish) is building planning and control of the densely built-up areas of the rural municipality. Link to text in Latvian: www.likumi.lv/doc.php?id=67902&mode=DOC

Law „On Town Self-Government" (adopted 24.04.1991)

24.04.1991

09.06.1994

Determined that in the competence of the town and city (republic city) municipality is building planning and control.  Link to text in Latvian: www.likumi.lv/doc.php?id=67903&mode=DOC

Law „On Land Reform in Rural Areas of Republic of Latvia" (adopted

21.11.1990)

21.11.1990

In force

Determines land reform aims and procedure. Link to text in Latvian: www.likumi.lv/doc.php?id=72849&mode=KDOC

Law "On State Ecological Expertise" (adopted 09.10.1990)

09.10.1990

13.11.1998

The objective was to evaluate ecological risk level of the economic activity, the ecological situation in the specific objects and places and prepare proposals for the improvement of the environment quality. Link to text in Latvian: www.likumi.lv/doc.php?mode=DOC&id=72731

Decision of the Supreme Council of Republic of Latvia „On Agrarian Reform in Republic of Latvia" (adopted 13.06.1990)

13.06.1990

not valid

Determined that rural land is allocated to natural and juridical persons with the rights to renew private land ownership or to transfer into private land ownership.

Table II.1.1: Normative documents regulating spatial planning in consecutive order.