Updated Building Codes of Ukraine: how the 2026 DBN will change the approach to development, safety and inclusivity
Time for Action analyzed the large-scale updates to state building codes that will come into effect in 2026. They cover several key documents at once Amendment No.1 to DBN B.2.2-12:2019 “Planning and development of territories” and Amendment No.3 to DBN V.2.2-40:2018 “Inclusivity of buildings and structures. Basic provisions.” The changes will affect the economics of land plots, the configuration of residential complexes, the state of safety in cities and inclusivity standards.
Time for Action collected data to explain what exactly will change and why these decisions significantly reshape the approach to the urban environment.
From January 1, 2026, a new norm on building density for high-rise buildings comes into force. If earlier a single limit of 30% plot development applied to buildings of 11 floors and above, now an independent restriction of only 25% is established for buildings from 16 floors. This is clearly defined in Amendment No.1 to DBN B.2.2-12:2019. Architects and developers acknowledge that such a step changes the economic models of plots. Ultra-high complexes become less profitable, as a smaller development area means fewer commercially attractive square meters. At the same time, mid-rise development receives new momentum for growth as a more balanced option for city planning.
In the context of safety, clarifications in the field of civil protection become relevant. The document provides for detailed approaches to designing shelters, dual-purpose structures, and evacuation routes. Specialists note that this essentially changes the logic of designing interblock spaces: now yards, passages, driveways and gaps between sections will be formed not only according to classical urban planning formulas but also according to the requirements of safe evacuation. The approach to positioning building sections also changes, since the space between them must provide adequate evacuation flows.
In parallel, Ukraine is preparing to update inclusive norms. Amendment No.3 to DBN V.2.2-40:2018, which will come into force on April 1, 2026, details the requirements for organizing land plots, accessibility of pedestrian paths, curb ramps, pedestrian crossings, as well as planning solutions inside buildings. This includes parameters of doors, stairs, ramps, sanitary facilities, the rules for using tactile and visual navigation tools, as well as fire safety standards for evacuation routes.
The ministry emphasizes that the document is part of systematic work on updating building norms in the field of inclusion. Sectoral government bodies, the scientific and technical council, public organizations and experts were involved in its preparation. This is the first step in a series of updates that should ensure the broad introduction of barrier-free principles. The ministry highlighted that the changes will begin to apply in 2026, “providing the industry with enough time for implementation.”
We remind that Ukraine has already presented the Accessibility Map an online tool for monitoring the accessibility of facilities in communities, which is intended to serve as a reference point for architects and local authorities.
Another significant change will occur in the sphere of state control. The Cabinet of Ministers supported a decision concerning the restoration of unscheduled inspections of construction sites by the state architectural and construction control authorities during martial law. Importantly, inspections are allowed only in safe areas where hostilities are not taking place. If previously a separate decision of the sectoral ministry was required for an inspection, now such a procedure will be simplified.
Inspections will be allowed in two exceptional cases:
if it is necessary to check compliance with accessibility requirements for people with disabilities, parents with strollers, elderly people and other low-mobility groups;
if construction is financed from the state or local budget.
The ministry’s statement noted: “Barrier-free access is the cross-cutting philosophy of recovery. It is embedded in all new construction projects, and strengthened control will help ensure that every facility is accessible and convenient for everyone.” It also adds that the changes will help ensure high-quality and safe construction and transparent use of budget funds.
Time for Action highlights several trends arising from the changes in construction legislation. First, regulations are becoming stricter regarding high-rise development. This may reshape the market toward mid-rise projects, which corresponds to modern approaches to urban planning. Second, civil protection requirements cease to be a formality and become a practical element of design. In wartime conditions this is especially important, as shelters and evacuation routes must be considered already at the concept stage. Third, inclusivity moves from declarations to concrete technical parameters that cannot be bypassed. This forms a new design standard in which the comfort of all population groups is not a suggestion but a norm. Strengthened state control makes this process more consistent and transparent.
In a broader context, these changes reflect the transformation of Ukrainian construction: from chaotic development of past decades to systematic, safe and inclusive growth of the urban environment. In 2026, the norms will operate under new conditions and their implementation will require responsibility from the state, business and local authorities. Ukraine needs cities that are comfortable to live in, where everyone has access to safe infrastructure and where architecture corresponds to modern risks. The updated DBN become one of the key steps in this direction.
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