Omsk reclaims 1,200 abandoned garden plots under new decree

A forgotten garden plot could soon power Omsk's growth. The city's bold move to reclaim abandoned land is reshaping local ownership—and opportunity.

, and Administrator

2026 February 8 . 1:25 PM

1 min read

The image shows an abandoned building with graffiti on the walls and pillars. The floor is visible... — The image shows an abandoned building with graffiti on the walls and pillars. The floor is visible at the bottom of the image, and there are pipes running along the walls. In the background, there is a door, giving the impression of an urban decay.

Omsk reclaims 1,200 abandoned garden plots under new decree

The Omsk city administration has taken control of over 1,200 unclaimed garden plots since mid-2023. These properties, left without heirs or legal owners, now fall under municipal management. The process follows a structured legal procedure to verify and transfer ownership.

Under Decree No. 149-R, introduced on June 9, 2023, the city identifies ownerless assets through public reports and inspections. Most cases involve garden plots, but the rules also cover unfinished buildings, utility networks, and movable property. Once flagged, officials check registries and prepare technical documents to confirm the absence of owners or heirs.

For escheated property—assets of deceased individuals with no heirs or unclaimed inheritances—the administration verifies deaths and confirms no legal claims exist. The transfer timeline varies: standard assets take about a year, linear infrastructure up to one and a half years, and real estate around two and a half years.

The final step is judicial. After a mandatory waiting period, the city files a lawsuit to formalise municipal ownership. Depending on the property type, it may be assigned to utility providers, offered to local enterprises, or sold or leased.

Since the decree's launch, 1,247 garden plots in Omsk have been registered as unclaimed and entered into official records. The administration continues to process these cases, ensuring abandoned assets are legally repurposed. The system aims to clarify ownership and return unused properties to active use.