Private Prefabricated Panel House Policy

The private prefabricated panel house policy covers aspects such as demolition, renovation, safety assessment, and regulations for self-built houses, as detailed below:

I. Demolition and Renovation Policies

1. Comprehensive Demolition and Old Neighborhood Renovation: Since 2022, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development has clearly stated that prefabricated floor slab houses will be gradually demolished. For dilapidated residential communities that are still habitable, the government leads old neighborhood renovations, including exterior wall painting, water and electricity circuit repairs, and elevator installations, with most of the costs borne by the government.
2. “Demolish and Rebuild on the Original Site” Policy: The new policy in 2026 allows homeowners to apply for “demolish and rebuild on the original site,” with the government providing tax exemptions. Qingdao has specified three types of houses eligible for application: prefabricated panel houses that do not meet seismic standards, non-self-contained housing (without independent kitchens and bathrooms), and C/D-grade dilapidated houses.
3. Renovation Planning: The State Council's “15th Five-Year Plan for Urban Renewal” proposes establishing files for C/D-grade dilapidated houses and non-self-contained housing, accelerating the demolition of D-grade dilapidated houses, steadily advancing the governance and seismic reinforcement of prefabricated panel houses, and planning to renovate more than 500,000 units (rooms).

II. Safety Assessment and Handling Policies

1. Service Life and Assessment Standards: The designed service life of prefabricated panel houses is 50 years, with a non-mandatory retirement line at 30 years. Whether to demolish them requires professional assessment. House safety is classified into four grades: Grade A (safe), Grade B (problems with individual components), Grade C (locally dilapidated), and Grade D (entire building dilapidated). Maintenance is the main approach for Grade A/B houses, Grade C houses require reinforcement or restricted use, and Grade D houses should be immediately vacated and demolished.
2. Renovation Requirements: Houses that exceed their designed service life, show signs of tilting/cracking/corrosion, or are intended for renovation purposes must be assessed by qualified institutions. Based on the assessment conclusions, decisions are made regarding observation, reinforcement, restricted use, vacating, or demolition.

III. Regulations for Self-Built Houses

1. House Construction Application and Approval: Rural house construction must comply with land use planning, using existing homesteads or vacant land within the village. An “Rural Construction Planning Permit” is required, and houses with more than three floors must be constructed by professional teams and undergo approval.
2. Area Standards: The “one household, one homestead” policy is implemented, with homestead areas ranging from 80 to 120 square meters (specifically determined by the village committee). Illegal “one household with multiple homesteads” must be demolished, except for legally inherited ones.
3. Usage and Approval Procedures: Homesteads are solely for residential purposes. House construction requires obtaining both a “Rural Homestead Approval Certificate” and a “Rural Construction Planning Permit.” Additional approvals from forestry, water conservancy, and other departments are required if involved. Construction without approval is considered an illegal structure.