Landowners in Russia could face fines or even land seizure for failing to utilize their property according to new regulations. These rules, set to take effect September 1, 2025, define specific conditions under which a plot is considered unused.

Vage Rybchenko, head of the legal reception of the Moscow Union of Gardeners, explained that a plot can be deemed unused if it remains undeveloped for three years and meets certain criteria.

These criteria include situations where more than half of the land is covered in garbage or waste. Furthermore, if no building or structure has been built and registered on the site for five or more years (when construction is legally permitted), the plot may be considered unused. Similarly, a plot intended for individual housing construction could be flagged if a residential building hasn’t been erected within seven years.

Other indicators of neglect include dilapidated buildings lacking roofs or windows and instances where weeds taller than one meter occupy more than half of a garden plot.

Landowners found in violation of these regulations may receive an order to rectify the issues. Fines can range from 1 to 1.5% of the plot’s cadastral value, with a minimum penalty of twenty thousand rubles.

Ignoring these requirements can ultimately lead to the seizure of the land.