The Aim of the Zoning Fee – from Financing Local Plans to Claims for Damages Cover Image

Cel opłaty planistycznej – od finansowania planów miejscowych do roszczeń odszkodowawczych
The Aim of the Zoning Fee – from Financing Local Plans to Claims for Damages

Author(s): Piotr Buława
Subject(s): Law, Constitution, Jurisprudence, Law on Economics, Commercial Law, Administrative Law
Published by: Wydawnictwo Naukowe Uniwersytetu Szczecińskiego
Keywords: zoning fee; local plan; claim for damages; urban sprawl; surcharge

Summary/Abstract: The institution of the zoning fee is a subject of criticism in the literature. The institution is even postulated to be abolished. However, the statistical data presented in the paper shows that the zoning fee has a significant fiscal potential. Therefore, before its liquidation, it is justified to attempt to reform it. The purpose of the paper is to indicate the desired areas of spatial policy which it should finance. The author presents three concepts. The most circulated conception in the literature is that the zoning fee should be used to finance the preparation and adoption of local spatial development plans. According to the second view, the zoning fee is a surcharge, and its aim is to co-finance the construction of infrastructure for real estate covered by the local plans. The third concept indicates that the aim of the fee is to finance claims for damages arising from the reduction in the value of real estate as a result of changes in the local plan. This concept is supported by the fact that the zoning fee and compensation claims are regulated in the same Article of the Act. Moreover, in the coming years, in order to eliminate the effects of urban sprawl, it will be necessary to incur severe damages due to the conversions of real estate back into agricultural and forestry plots. Such damages may be financed from the zoning fee. Since the third concept is based on contextual and functional interpretation, it should be recognised as appropriate. The paper is based on the analysis of bills of law, legal and urban planning literature. Moreover, an analysis of statistical data on the zoning fee was performed.

  • Issue Year: 2023
  • Issue No: 43 (2)
  • Page Range: 9-25
  • Page Count: 17
  • Language: Polish