Amendments to regulations on urban and rural planning
The new Decree expands the legal framework and introduces greater flexibility in planning management, consistent with the two-tier local government model.
The Government has issued Decree No. 34/2026/ND-CP dated January 22, 2026, amending several provisions of Decree No. 178/2025/ND-CP, which guides the implementation of the Law on Urban and Rural Planning. The new Decree expands the legal framework and enhances flexibility in planning management, in line with the two-tier local government model and decentralization requirements.
Under the amended regulations, requirements for master urban planning have been adjusted by lowering the minimum population density threshold from 500 to 300 people per square kilometer. At the same time, the minimum area requirement for new urban areas has been removed, allowing greater flexibility in defining planning boundaries. These boundaries will be determined based on the national urban and rural system plan, regional planning, provincial planning, or the city master plan.
Provincial-level People’s Committees are authorized to decide on zoning plans in accordance with management and the spatial structure of approved master plans. In addition, detailed planning regulations have been adjusted to remove fixed area thresholds for functional zones.
Furthermore, the Decree requires planning dossiers to be submitted via the national construction database. Regarding budget management, the Decree revises the responsibilities of provincial-level People’s Committees in issuing annual plans and approving budgets, while permitting appropriate decentralization in accordance with the Law on Organization of Local Government.
Hai Phong News