The government of Uzbekistan has begun reforms aimed at systematizing the external appearance of temporary trade points across the country and bringing them to a single standard. This was reported by Upl.uz.
According to the resolution No. 478 of the Cabinet of Ministers dated July 31, 2025, a single architectural standard for small architectural forms will be introduced in the republic. Objects installed on land plots without legal grounds will be demolished.
This measure is part of a large-scale campaign aimed at regulating urban space and improving its aesthetic appearance. Previously, a design code for buildings and advertising structures was developed and implemented in the city of Tashkent.
Within the framework of the new rules, a two-stage inventory of all temporary structures will be conducted. The first stage will cover central streets and district centers until the first day of September.
The second stage will involve checking the remaining areas until the first day of October. Owners of illegal objects will be obliged to legalize their activities or stop them and vacate the premises.
As a key element of the reform, a comprehensive design code is planned to be developed and approved by February 2026. This document will set clear requirements for the external appearance of trade pavilions and kiosks.
The focus will be on harmony with the architectural environment, convenience for pedestrians, and compliance with sanitary and fire safety regulations. A temporary ban will be imposed on entrepreneurs with lease agreements from changing the structures of their trade points until the new standards are approved.
Lease agreements will be terminated with those who violate this rule, and objects will be demolished, with no right to conclude new contracts in the future. These steps by the government have elicited mixed reactions among entrepreneurs.
On one hand, the need to establish order in the trade sector and improve the urban environment is recognized. On the other hand, there are concerns about illegal actions by local authorities and law enforcement agencies during inspections and demolition processes.
There have been complaints that entrepreneurs were not notified in advance about the demolition of objects deemed illegal and were not given the opportunity to legalize them. Authorities emphasize that illegal constructions often damage irrigation systems, obstruct pedestrian and vehicle traffic, and distort the architectural appearance of cities.
In global practice, design codes are widely used tools for regulating urban environments. One of the most famous examples includes strict regulations on surfaces, types of advertising signs, materials for road coverings, and even color palettes in the historical centers of many European cities.
