Ho Chi Minh City to cut utilities to illegal construction
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From October 1, authorities in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, will disconnect electricity and water to buildings and businesses that violate construction, fire safety, or environmental regulations.
The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Council passed a resolution allowing local district chairpersons to halt utility services to structures built without permits, those exceeding permitted designs, or those posing fire and environmental risks.
This measure will apply to establishments like nightclubs and karaoke bars failing to meet fire safety standards, and structures slated for demolition that remain standing. The city will only enact these disconnections after formally notifying violators and giving them a chance to correct the issues. Officials will document violations within two days, and then the district chairperson has one day to issue an order for the utility companies to disconnect service within 24 hours.
Utility service will be restored within 24 hours once the violation is addressed. City officials acknowledge the disruption this could cause and emphasize the need to clearly define the scope of the regulation, particularly for home repairs and construction. They state this new tool is necessary because previously, lengthy administrative processes often allowed illegal construction to finish before authorities could intervene.
Between 2020 and 2024, the city averaged 1.36 cases of illegal or non-compliant construction each day, with 629 violations discovered so far this year.
