Since the start of 2026, Almaty authorities have demolished 52 illegal buildings, and violators face not only demolition but also a fine of 64,875 tenge — the equivalent of 15 monthly calculation indices under Article 319 of Kazakhstan's Administrative Code. However, city residents have the opportunity to legalize a house, extension, bathhouse, or other outbuilding free of charge, even without a construction permit, according to infohub.kz.
Legalization is the process of formalizing real estate that was built or remodeled without the necessary documents and permits. According to the Krisha portal, Almaty residents can legalize a house, an extension, remodeling or conversion of an individual house and other structures on their plot, outbuildings such as a bathhouse, garage, or shed, as well as temporary structures — fences, greenhouses, and similar objects. However, apartment remodeling is not eligible for legalization.
Each type of object has its own conditions. A residential house requires an expert report confirming that the structure is sturdy and can withstand an earthquake: if the house is located in a dangerous seismic zone or on poor soil, legalization will not be allowed. Remodeling can be legalized if load-bearing walls were not affected, fire and sanitary safety rules were not violated, and the boundaries of the plot were not exceeded. Outbuildings — bathhouse, garage, shed — are subject to legalization provided that their construction did not require relocating or altering main utility lines: gas, water, electricity, sewerage.
It is important to note that not all buildings qualify for legalization. Objects built after September 1, 2022, buildings in water protection zones, and real estate whose rights are disputed in court cannot be legalized.
Legalization commissions sit in akimats, so applications should be submitted to the akimat of the district where the object is located. The application, in free form, must be accompanied by a copy of an ID, a certificate of registered rights and encumbrances on the real estate from eGov, documents for the land plot, a seismic report, and the technical project of the building. If the remodeling affects neighbors' interests, their written consent certified by a notary is required.
The seismic report and technical project can be ordered from a certified design bureau; the price depends on the type and area of the object. The legalization itself is free of charge. However, submitting documents does not guarantee a positive decision: the commission will check whether the object meets all requirements, and if it does not, a refusal will be issued. If the commission's decision is positive, the owner will receive a certificate, with which they can obtain new documents for the plot and building.
Almaty residents can legalize their buildings until January 1, 2027. Recall that illegal buildings can be punished not only for ordinary citizens but also for officials and business representatives — for them, stricter fines are provided.