{"id":15554,"date":"2026-06-09T18:43:40","date_gmt":"2026-06-09T18:43:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alvareza.cl\/?p=15554"},"modified":"2026-06-09T18:50:45","modified_gmt":"2026-06-09T18:50:45","slug":"legal-alert-amendment-to-law-no-21718-the-general-urban-planning-and-construction-law-and-law-no-21473","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alvareza.cl\/en\/legal-alert-amendment-to-law-no-21718-the-general-urban-planning-and-construction-law-and-law-no-21473\/","title":{"rendered":"Legal Alert: Amendment to Law No. 21,718, the General Urban Planning and Construction Law, and Law No. 21,473"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"15554\" class=\"elementor elementor-15554\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-dca0919 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default qodef-elementor-content-no\" data-id=\"dca0919\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ae0c507\" data-id=\"ae0c507\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c0eb1f3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c0eb1f3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Date of publication: June 2026<br \/><\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5449484\" data-id=\"5449484\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-ccc87da elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default qodef-elementor-content-no\" data-id=\"ccc87da\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-211114c\" data-id=\"211114c\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bb9beb2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bb9beb2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Authors:<\/strong> Alejandro \u00c1lvarez and Blanca Oddo \u2013 Alvarez Abogados<\/p><p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\">The bill amending Law No. 21,718, on the streamlining of construction permits; the General Urban Planning and Construction Law (Ley General de Urbanismo y Construcciones, &#8220;LGUC&#8221;); and Law No. 21,473, which regulates the installation, design and maintenance of advertising elements, was approved by the Chilean National Congress and submitted to the Executive Branch through Official Letter No. 21,260, dated June 2, 2026.<\/p><p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\">The only pending step is presidential enactment and subsequent publication in the Official Gazette. Considering the date on which the Official Letter was submitted, the presidential term would expire, at the latest, on July 2, 2026. Unless the President of the Republic submits observations to the bill \u2014 which, in principle, appears unlikely \u2014 the law will enter into force in actum and will not include retroactive provisions.<br \/><br \/><\/p><p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"><strong>Main amendments<br \/><br \/><\/strong><\/p><p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"><strong>1. Formal admissibility review<\/strong><\/p><p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\">A new article 118 is incorporated into the LGUC, establishing a formal admissibility review of applications. For this purpose, the Municipal Works Directorate (Direcci\u00f3n de Obras Municipales, &#8220;DOM&#8221;) will have a term of five business days from the filing of the application.<\/p><p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\">If the DOM does not declare the application inadmissible within such term, the application will be deemed automatically admitted for processing.<\/p><p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\">Any declaration of inadmissibility must be duly reasoned and will be subject to challenge.<br \/><br \/><\/p><p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"><strong>2. DOM response deadlines<\/strong><\/p><p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\">The deadlines for the DOM to issue its decision are amended as follows:<\/p><ul class=\"[li_&amp;]:mb-0 [li_&amp;]:mt-1 [li_&amp;]:gap-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3\"><li class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">For the ordinary regime, the previous term of 30 calendar days is replaced by a term of 25 business days.<\/li><li class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">In cases where there is a favorable report issued by an independent reviewer, the term will be 15 business days.<\/li><li class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">In the case of projects with high occupancy load \u2014 that is, equal to or greater than 1,000 people \u2014 the general term will be 50 business days. If there is an independent reviewer, such term will be 30 business days.<\/li><li class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">For minor works and mergers of lots, the term will be 15 business days.<\/li><\/ul><p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"><strong>3. Claims before the SEREMI MINVU<\/strong><\/p><p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\">Regarding claims filed before the Regional Ministerial Secretariat of Housing and Urban Development (Secretar\u00eda Regional Ministerial de Vivienda y Urbanismo, &#8220;SEREMI MINVU&#8221;), a new article 118 bis is incorporated into the LGUC, regulating standing to file a claim, which will correspond to the interested party or the owner of the property.<\/p><p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\">The SEREMI MINVU must issue a reasoned decision within 40 business days, counted from the expiration of the applicable response periods. If the claim is upheld, the SEREMI MINVU may directly order the DOM to grant the permit, with a reduction in municipal fees.<\/p><p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\">The review will be limited to the specific petitions submitted and to the alleged infringed provisions. The decision of the SEREMI MINVU may only be challenged through a motion for reconsideration, in accordance with Law No. 19,880, within a term of 30 days.<br \/><br \/><\/p><p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"><strong>4. Claim before the Court of Appeals<\/strong><\/p><p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\">A new article 118 ter is incorporated into the LGUC, regulating claims before the Court of Appeals. The term to file such claim will be counted from the notification of the SEREMI MINVU&#8217;s decision or from the expiration of the term to issue a decision without any decision having been rendered, a circumstance that may be digitally certified.<\/p><p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\">If the claim is upheld, the Court may:<\/p><ul class=\"[li_&amp;]:mb-0 [li_&amp;]:mt-1 [li_&amp;]:gap-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3\"><li class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Order the issuance of a decision.<\/li><li class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Declare the right to compensation.<\/li><li class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Enable the corresponding criminal prosecution.<\/li><\/ul><p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\">The illegality declared by the Court will constitute a non-disputable premise in the subsequent summary compensation proceeding.<br \/><br \/><\/p><p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"><strong>5. Final approvals<\/strong><\/p><p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\">Article 144 of the LGUC is amended, establishing that partial and total final approvals will be governed by the regime set forth in such provision, including its deadlines and admissibility system.<br \/><br \/><\/p><p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"><strong>6. Traffic Impact Mitigation Reports<\/strong><\/p><p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\">Article 172 of the LGUC is amended, regulating the general, basic and intermediate Traffic Impact Mitigation Report (Informe de Mitigaci\u00f3n de Impacto Vial, &#8220;IMIV&#8221;).<\/p><p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\">The general IMIV will have the following characteristics:<\/p><ul class=\"[li_&amp;]:mb-0 [li_&amp;]:mt-1 [li_&amp;]:gap-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3\"><li class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Its approval will be a requirement to obtain the permit.<\/li><li class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">It will be valid for three years from its notification.<\/li><li class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">It may be reviewed in the event of project modifications.<\/li><\/ul><p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\">The basic or intermediate IMIV will have the following characteristics:<\/p><ul class=\"[li_&amp;]:mb-0 [li_&amp;]:mt-1 [li_&amp;]:gap-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3\"><li class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">Its approval will be a requirement for final approval, and not for the permit.<\/li><li class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\">It will be valid for ten years.<\/li><\/ul><p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"><strong>7. Liability of specialty designers<\/strong><\/p><p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\">Article 18 of the LGUC is amended to include express liability for the professional or technician who develops specialty projects, regarding compliance with applicable regulations and any errors committed in the performance of their duties.<br \/><br \/><\/p><p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"><strong>8. Administrative publicity<\/strong><\/p><p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\">Articles 116 and 116 bis C of the LGUC are amended, replacing the 60-day list with a new resolution. In addition, the obligation to inform the Municipal Council and neighborhood associations is eliminated, moving toward a digital publicity system.<\/p><p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\">For more information on the amendments to Law No. 21,718, the LGUC and Law No. 21,473, and their effects, please contact Alejandro \u00c1lvarez at <a class=\"underline underline underline-offset-2 decoration-1 decoration-current\/40 hover:decoration-current focus:decoration-current\" href=\"mailto:aalvarez@alvareza.cl\">aalvarez@alvareza.cl<\/a> or Blanca Oddo at <a class=\"underline underline underline-offset-2 decoration-1 decoration-current\/40 hover:decoration-current focus:decoration-current\" href=\"mailto:boddo@alvareza.cl\">boddo@alvareza.cl<\/a>.<\/p><p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\">Alvarez Abogados<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Date of publication: June 2026 Authors: Alejandro \u00c1lvarez and Blanca Oddo \u2013 Alvarez Abogados The bill amending Law No. 21,718, on the streamlining of construction permits; the General Urban Planning and Construction Law (Ley General de Urbanismo y Construcciones, &#8220;LGUC&#8221;); and Law No. 21,473, which regulates the installation, design and maintenance of advertising elements, was [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[74],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15554","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-legal-alert"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alvareza.cl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15554","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alvareza.cl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alvareza.cl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alvareza.cl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alvareza.cl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15554"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/alvareza.cl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15554\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15563,"href":"https:\/\/alvareza.cl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15554\/revisions\/15563"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alvareza.cl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15554"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alvareza.cl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15554"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alvareza.cl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15554"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}