Estonia - New Provisions in the Water Act
- Estonia
- 04/27/2010
- Raidla & Partners
On 27 January 2010, the Riigikogu passed the Act Amending the Water Act and Related Acts. The principal amendments relate to the building and maintaining of structures in public water bodies that are not permanently attached to the shore. Provisions regulating the encumberment of a public water body with such a structure are included in the Water Act.
Building permissions must be sought from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications for constructing such a structure. The amendments also prescribe the conditions and procedures to apply for and for issuing building permissions, as well as for relevant supervision. The owner of the structure not permanently attached to the shore must pay an annual charge for encumbering a public water body with such a structure.
The amendments list public water bodies and prescribe the conditions and procedure for paying the charge. The amendments entered into force on 27 February 2010.
