Changes to parking regulations, electronic tickets, and small retail kiosks were discussed in Odessa

In Odesa, officials discussed a number of issues that could affect the city’s transportation system, parking, and the placement of temporary structures. Key topics included the introduction of electronic tickets, a review of parking fees, and the long-standing debate over new regulations for small architectural forms (MAFs).

At a meeting of the Odessa City Council’s Standing Committee on Municipal Property, Economic, Investment, and State Regulatory Policy, several issues related to municipal property, the transportation sector, and the city’s regulatory policy were addressed.

Leasing and Shelter

The first issue was a request from the Territorial Administration of the State Judicial Administration regarding the transfer of a number of buildings from municipal to state ownership. Specifically, this concerned properties on Balkivska, Vasyl Stus, and Chornomorskoho Kozatstva Streets, which are used by courts and other state institutions.

During the discussion, council members emphasized that state agencies may continue to use the premises under existing lease agreements, so there is currently no need to transfer them to state ownership. At the same time, they noted that the city council has already agreed to the free transfer of civil defense shelters to the state and is now awaiting further decisions at the national level.

When will the electronic ticket system be launched?

The commission paid special attention to the transportation sector. Representatives of the Department of Transportation requested a change in the order of adoption of two regulatory acts related to the implementation of an automated fare collection system—essentially the future electronic ticket system in Odesa.

Officials explained that it is first necessary to approve the operating procedures for the electronic ticket system itself, and only then make the corresponding changes to the rules for using public transportation. According to department representatives, legal comments on the document have already been largely addressed, and after its publication, the executive committee will be able to announce a tender to select the system operator.

City officials do not rule out that, under favorable conditions, the electronic ticket system could be up and running by the end of 2026.

New Parking Rates 

Another issue was the establishment of new parking fee rates. Representatives of the municipal utility and the Department of Transportation reported that they are preparing a new draft resolution, as the city council’s previous resolution from 2022 was overturned by the court.

Currently, the parking fees in effect in Odesa were actually approved back in 2011. Because of this, there is a significant disparity in payment amounts among different parking operators. The new resolution is planned to be submitted to the city council for consideration in the near future, taking advantage of a provision in the law for the period of martial law that allows tax decisions to be made without going through the full regulatory process.

At the same time, officials have assured that once the situation is resolved, they will conduct all necessary public consultations and regulatory procedures.

The Issue with Small Architectural Structures

The main topic of discussion was yet another postponement of the deadline for drafting a document that would establish new rules for the placement of temporary structures in the city. Department representatives explained that the drafting of the act is being delayed due to constant changes in legislation, numerous comments, and the need to refine regulatory mechanisms. At the same time, council members emphasized that the city has been unable to adopt a comprehensive document regulating the operation of small architectural formsfor nearly five years.

During the discussion, sharp criticism was directed at the responsible agencies. One of the commission members stated that the situation had become “a national disgrace,” since in recent years the city council has made virtually no progress in creating transparent rules for entrepreneurs. According to him, the drafting of the document is postponed each time for new reasons, while the city continues to operate under outdated mechanisms.

The deputies paid particular attention to the introduction of auctions for the right to place small retail kiosks. In their view, a competitive bidding process would make the procedure more transparent and increase budget revenues. During the meeting, it was noted that many entrepreneurs actually pay significant sums to private intermediaries or landlords for the use of retail spaces, while the city budget receives minimal revenue.

According to participants in the discussion, in certain districts of Odesa, subleasing a standard small architectural form can cost between $500 and $800 per month, while official payments to the budget remain relatively small. This is precisely why the deputies believe the city is losing out on significant revenue from the use of public land.

Representatives of the relevant department noted that there is currently almost no successful practice in Ukraine of implementing an auction model for temporary structures. They cited Kyiv as an example, where such a mechanism has begun to be implemented, but some of the decisions have already become the subject of legal disputes, and certain provisions have been overturned by the courts.

Despite this, some council members insisted that Odessa should draw on existing experience and finally transition to a more transparent system. They emphasized that the current model does not meet modern requirements and creates conditions for the opaque use of municipal land resources. There were also statements about the need to conclude the long-standing discussions and submit a specific document for consideration by the city council.

Ultimately, the committee supported postponing consideration of the relevant regulatory act. Deputies made it clear that they expect specific decisions from executive bodies that will increase budget revenues and establish clear rules for businesses.

In addition, Odessa may double the tourist tax for foreigners. The city council’s budget committee also supported tax breaks for certain institutions for 2026–2027.

Анна Бальчінос