Who is in charge of controlling constructions?

In the City of Buenos Aires, the entity in charge of controlling the constructions is the “Dirección General de Fiscalización y Control de Obras y Catastro” (DGFyCO). This entity is in charge of controlling, supervising, and registering the civil constructions, both the constructions done from zero and the constructions for remodelling (whether public or private) within the City of Buenos Aires.

Through these controls, the entity tries to make the “Codigo de construccion” [construction code] (Argentine law no 257) and other related current and future laws to be obeyed.

Besides controlling constructions, the “Dirección General de Fiscalización y Control de Obras y Catastro” is in charge of controlling the electrical, bathroom, mechanical, and electromechanical installations; the elevators installations; the thermal and inflammable installations, among others.

More specifically¸ the organization in charge of the supervision of the civil constructions is the “Agencia Gubernamental de Control” (through the DGFyCO).

In 2010, there were two major collapses in the downtown area of Buenos Aires and in the neighbourhood of Villa Urquiza. Due to these, the entity in charge of controlling constructions has implemented new rules in order to have a better control. One of these rules is that, from January 2012, every person who is doing a construction must deliver a construction plan before the DGFyCO, including the exact dates in which any demolitions and excavations are going to take place. This way a clearer inspection can be made during these stages of the construction, which are the most dangerous ones.

Another interesting way of controlling is the new system launched by the city’s government. This system gives all neighbours the chance of complaining of those constructions that are not complying with the law, in cases such as lack of protection (wood or metal) sheets, when the sign that mentions that the construction is authorized to be done is missing; if the sidewalk is blocked; or if there is rubble on the streets. Any neighbour who sees one of these things is taking place may take a picture and report it on the Web of the government of the City of Buenos Aires. This was done in order the neighbours can get involved and avoid future collapses.