This Land Code is a basic framework law governing land relations throughout the country. It defines the legal regime of land as a natural object and basis of life and activity of the people, regulates the grounds for the emergence, exercise, transfer and termination of rights to land, and establishes rules for the classification, use, protection and monitoring of land.
The Code sets out key principles such as preservation of land, state and environmental security, priority of agricultural land, equality of forms of ownership, paid use of land, and accessibility of information on land rights. The Code details the structure of the land fund, categories of land (including agricultural, urban, industrial, forest, water, protected areas and reserve lands), and types of land use (agricultural and non agricultural plots, pastures, hayfields, household plots, etc.).
It regulates state, municipal and private land ownership, including special rules for state and municipal land users, and strict limitations on land rights of foreign persons and entities, particularly regarding agricultural land and border areas. It establishes procedures for granting land in ownership or use (including by auction and direct allocation), free allocation of household plots to citizens once, and the management and leasing of the State Fund of Agricultural Land.
The Code provides detailed rules on compensation for losses of agricultural and forestry production and lost profits, and numerous exemptions from such compensation for public interest projects.
It also comprehensively regulates pasture management, pasture tickets, fees and plans for pasture use, including use of pastures for other purposes under strict conditions.
The Code assigns competences in land administration to the Jogorku Kenesh, Cabinet of Ministers, specially authorized state bodies, district state administrations, local councils, mayors and village councils, including powers over allocation, transformation, expropriation and control of land use.
It sets grounds and procedures for termination and expropriation of land rights, including for public and state needs with compensation, and for non use or misuse of land. Further, it establishes a system for land protection, including obligations of landowners and users, soil conservation, reclamation, conservation of degraded lands, and environmental standards. Finally, it creates and regulates the state land cadastre, electronic land register, land monitoring and land management, and provides for dispute resolution and liability for violations of land legislation.