Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has succeeded in crafting an initial government plan for streamlining the bureaucracy that surrounds the building of homes in Israel. The plan was approved Wednesday evening by the Ministerial Committee for Improvement in the Field of Planning and Construction, which is headed by Netanyahu.
The initial reform in the operation of planning and construction committees involves streamlining of licensing processes for various types of construction. The reform will not be relevant for residents of Judea and Samaria, who are currently suffering under a semi-formal building freeze demanded by the United States.
The plan, which is actually Step A of a larger reform plan, is dubbed by the Prime Minister's Office as the “licensing revolution.” It is intended to improve, shorten and simplify the licensing process for building and will include the establishment of private monitoring institutes that will be “one stop shops” where all of the bureaucratic professional approvals can be received.
The full reform, Netanyahu promised, will make housing more affordable, especially for young couples.
The approved reform defines three tracks for receiving construction permits. The “permit-free” track will give immediate approval for small projects like construction of fences up to 2 meters high, addition of industrial air conditioners and installation of solar panels. The “short track” for projects like the closing of a porch, addition of a pergola and other small scale construction will take no more than 45 days. The “full track” for larger projects, like construction of a new building or bridge, will not take more than 90 days.
Experts contend that the current bureaucracy surrounding construction in Israel causes housing to be much more expensive than it otherwise could have been, and complicates investment and development.