Zakopane Illegal Construction: Court Orders Demolition of Five Houses

A final court ruling has mandated the demolition of five residential buildings and an access road constructed illegally on Bachledzki Wierch in Zakopane. The District Court in Nowy Sącz upheld a previous verdict, ordering the investor to pay a 5,000 złoty fine and dismantle the structures, effectively returning the land to its prior condition.

The case has generated significant local controversy, not only due to the location within the Zakopane Valley Cultural Park, which prohibits new construction, but also because of the investor's initial claims. The investor had asserted that the buildings were intended as "watering troughs for horses," despite evidence suggesting they were single-family homes built without necessary permits between June 2024 and May 2025.

In August 2025, the District Court in Zakopane found the investor guilty of violating park regulations. The initial sentence included the demolition order and the fine. The investor appealed this decision, but the District Court in Nowy Sącz has now confirmed the original ruling, making the demolition order legally binding. The timeline for the demolition remains unclear.

This is not the investor's only legal trouble concerning development on Bachledzki Wierch. In March 2026, the District Prosecutor's Office in Zakopane filed charges related to violations of nature and protected area regulations. The individual has admitted guilt and faces a potential prison sentence of up to two years.

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watering troughs for horses