Land Policies Observatory

Law Commentary

Behind the Scenes of Legitimizing Illegal Quarries: How the Government and Cement Companies Manipulated Urban Planning Frameworks in Koura

This commentary takes a spatial approach to dissecting the Lebanese Government’s controversial Decisions No. 16 and No. 59 (passed in April 2026), exposing them as a continuation of a decades-long trajectory of collusion between the state and the powerful cement cartel, including the two major companies operating in Koura: “Holcim” and “National Cement Company.”

Article Law Commentary

A Proposal to Address Building Collapses:

Filling the Legal Void Does Not Replace the State 

Building collapses in Lebanon are no longer isolated incidents, but the result of a long accumulation of neglect and the state’s retreat from its responsibilities toward public safety. The latest draft law proposed by deputy Ihab Matar seeks to establish a mechanism for addressing structurally damaged buildings by organizing roles and relying on incentives and private financing rather than developing a comprehensive public policy. Yet when rehabilitation is tied to economic feasibility and investment opportunities, the question remains: what kind of city is being shaped, and for whom is it being rebuilt or renovated?

Report

Monitoring Draft laws and Government Decisions: 

What Did the State Do During the War?

This report monitors the performance of the government and parliament during the period of the Israeli aggression up to 15 April, and shows the absence of a comprehensive response that tackles social and economic impacts. Partial responses and an increasingly security-driven approach were adopted, alongside the passing of decisions that do not reflect the priorities of the moment nor the scale of the ongoing collapse. This reveals an ongoing crisis management through a business-as-usual logic, without an integrated approach that places people’s needs at the center of the response.

Law Commentary

The Suspension of Deadlines in the Absence of Housing Protection: A Legislative Loophole in Times of War

The suspension of deadlines in times of war is a key tool for protecting rights. However, excluding lease agreements from it undermines this protection and exposes tenants to the risk of eviction and homelessness. In the context of widespread displacement and declining ability to pay, the right to housing cannot be separated from any serious legislative response to the crisis. Including leases within the scope of suspended deadlines is not a technical detail, but an urgent necessity to ensure a minimum level of social protection under exceptional circumstances.

Law Commentary

Two Complementary Draft Laws to Strengthen the Right to Housing

On Wednesday, February 25, 2026, MP Halima Al-Qaqour, along with a number of MPs, submitted two draft laws to the Speaker of Parliament. The first, an amendment to the old residential lease law, …

Report

What Do We Know So Far About Post-War Recovery in Lebanon?

Public Works Studio has been monitoring and analyzing post-war recovery in Lebanon since the ceasefire on 27 November 2024, focusing on reconstruction policies, financing, compensation, rubble removal, projects, and displacement. The goal is to create an open database to track developments, identify gaps, and support advocacy, participation, transparency, and policy improvements.

Law Commentary

A law proposal to establish a separate cadastral zone for the municipality of Saadiyat, submitted by MP Bilal Abdullah, represents a pivotal point for a deeper discussion around the history of these areas and their evolving social boundaries. In the case of Damour and Saadiyat, the area became a symbol of the profound political crisis brought about by demographic changes in the Chouf coastal region, resulting from transformations and repeated waves of displacement to and from it.

Law Commentary

The Exemptions and Reconstruction Law: Not an Alternative to a Comprehensive National Plan

More than seven months after the ceasefire in Lebanon, on June 30, 2025, the Parliament passed the first law related to reconstruction in response to the Israeli war on Lebanon. Ultimately, the law is a limited step forward, highlighting the urgent need for a comprehensive national recovery plan for reconstruction.

Law Commentary

Periodic Renewal of New Occupancy Permits: Overlooking the Deterioration of the Existing Urban Fabric

The draft law to set the newly issued occupancy permit duration at ten years—renewable every five years to ensure the structural integrity of buildings and maintain public safety—while seemingly well-intentioned, overlooks the immediate danger posed by thousands of aging and structurally unsound structures and the effects of urban decay, and offers a narrow and insufficient response to Lebanon’s broader urban crisis.

Law Commentary

 Imad Al-Hout Approaches the Social Crisis of Old Rent Contracts Through a Narrow Numerical Lens

In a few lines, Representative Imad Al-Hout seeks, by proposing a repeated accelerated law, to resolve the decades-old problem surrounding the old rent law, by setting a clear date for the entry into …

Report

Between Rubble Removal and Reconstruction: Will the Israeli Ecocide in Lebanon Continue?

In the aftermath of Israel’s attacks, Lebanon struggles with both physical and environmental destruction. This report examines the state’s efforts in rubble removal, highlighting key gaps and necessary approaches for a sustainable recovery.

Interactive Map

Uncovering the Informal Blueprint of cities in Lebanon

Tripoli | Beirut | Saida | Tyre

The map and article is not yet translated, refer to the Arabic version here.