Tashkent, Podrobno.uz. The Business Ombudsman has sharply criticized a decision by the Tashkent City Council of People's Deputies dated February 17, 2026, regarding the introduction of the capital's design code rules. After analyzing the document's impact on the business environment, the agency concluded that several provisions contradict current legislation and create unjustified barriers for the private sector.

The review found that the design code project did not undergo mandatory coordination with the Business Ombudsman, which is a direct violation of the Law on Regulatory Legal Acts. Additionally, experts identified serious legal gaps in the document's text. In particular, requirements for advertising, such as the use of low-saturation or neutral colors, lack clear criteria and can be interpreted subjectively. This creates a risk of violating entrepreneurs' intellectual property rights, as many brands use bright registered colors as part of their identity.

Special attention in the conclusion is given to implementation deadlines. The established three-month period for adapting to the new rules was deemed insufficient. The Business Ombudsman emphasized that the process should be phased to avoid excessive financial and administrative burdens on businesses, especially network companies with numerous facilities.

Following the inspection, an official conclusion was submitted to the City Council calling for a revision of the parts of the decision affecting business interests. The Business Ombudsman's office proposed extending the deadlines for the norms to take effect and reworking the document with direct participation of its experts to strike a balance between the city's aesthetic appearance and entrepreneurs' rights.

It is worth recalling that earlier, a press conference dedicated to the introduction of the unified city design code was held at the capital's khokimiyat.

Source: podrobno.uz