Morocco parliament approves reform of urban subdivision law

Tuesday 09 June 2026 - 13:42

By: Dakir Madiha

Morocco parliament approves reform of urban subdivision law

The lower house of parliament approved a new legal reform updating the framework governing land subdivision, housing groups, and land parceling rules. The vote passed on Monday by a majority of 120 votes in favor, 50 abstentions, and no votes against, signaling broad institutional backing despite political reservations from parts of the opposition.

The legislation revises law 25.90, which has regulated urban development structures since 1992. Lawmakers framed the reform as a response to rapid urban expansion and increased pressure on land use across Moroccan cities. The government argued that the existing legal framework no longer matches current development dynamics, particularly the rising number of real estate projects and infrastructure demands.

The text introduces flexible timelines for completing subdivision projects based on size. Projects under 20 hectares will have a three-year completion window, while large developments exceeding 400 hectares may extend up to 15 years. It also transfers public infrastructure automatically to municipal ownership after provisional acceptance, reinforcing local authority control over completed developments. Developers will remain responsible for construction defects identified after delivery, tightening accountability standards in the sector.

The reform also addresses social and administrative challenges linked to housing. It includes measures for emergency relocation in cases of natural disasters and provisions aimed at reducing informal and unsafe housing. Authorities are also expected to simplify authorization procedures to accelerate investment while maintaining regulatory oversight. Parliamentary groups supporting the bill described it as a structural modernization effort, while opposition members warned of possible administrative complexity and weakened legal safeguards.