Ivan Ermokhin, Researcher of the International Best Practices Analysis Department at the Gaidar Institute, explained in a commentary for News.ru, who will benefit from “garage amnesty”, which garages fall under its scope and why the law is important not only for citizens but also for the state.
The extension of the "garage amnesty" was one of the amendments to the Land Code adopted on August 4, 2026. The program's basic terms remain: citizens can register their garage and the land underneath it free of charge, provided the land was previously state or municipal property. This applies to garages intended for personal use; they cannot be used for commercial purposes.
The need for renewal stems from the history of many garages. A significant number were built during the Soviet era or in the early years after the collapse of the USSR, when land and building documents were often issued to businesses and cooperatives, and a modern cadastral registration system did not yet exist. This makes it difficult for owners to confirm their rights.
"Extending 'garage amnesty' for another five years will allow those citizens who were unable to do so earlier for objective reasons to register their rights. This primarily applies to owners of garages built during the Soviet era or in the first years after the collapse of the USSR, when land and building documents were often issued by businesses, cooperatives, and other organizations, while a unified cadastral registration system did not yet exist. Over the past decades, some archives have been lost, and in some cases, land surveying or lengthy interactions with municipal authorities are required. This additional period gives such owners the opportunity to resolve these issues and bring their documents into compliance with modern requirements. Moreover, the program is important not only for individuals: registering rights allows the state to clarify land parcel information, streamline cadastral registration, and expand the tax base," explained Ivan Ermokhin.
According to Rosreestr, during five years since the law's implementation, by 2026, approximately 800.000 garages have already been registered in Russia. For the state, this means not only streamlining property rights but also clarifying information on land plots previously overlooked in urban planning, as well as potentially expanding the tax base.
However, the amnesty does not apply to all garages. The facility must have been built before December 30, 2004, and be considered a permanent structure, i.e., it must be firmly connected to the ground. These criteria may include detached garages and garage boxes, including those with shared walls, roofs, foundations or utilities. The program does not apply to garages in apartment buildings and commercial properties, underground garages, storage facilities for machinery and equipment, and non-permanent structures, including "shell garages."
To register ownership, it is necessary to confirm that the land plot was granted to the citizen or that the citizen has acquired the right to use it. Supporting documents may include government decisions, documents from enterprises and organizations, garage cooperatives, old technical passports, and, in some cases, inheritance documents.
Then, it has to be checked whether the plot has been registered with the cadastral authorities and whether its boundaries have been defined. If the plot hasn't been registered, it must first be created, and then an application has to be submitted to the authority managing the relevant state or municipal land.