by Maximiliano Crocamo
Interviews: Caterina De Gavardo, Councilor for Public Safety and Local Police; Vice Commissioner in charge of the Building Police Unit, Igor Kozman
City officials on Tuesday reported a sharp increase in building code enforcement cases, highlighting the growing role of a specialized unit within the local police dedicated to construction oversight.
The Building Police and Construction Site Safety Division, a long-standing branch of Trieste’s municipal police, handled more than 700 cases in 2025, continuing a steady rise in activity. About one-third of those cases stemmed from citizen reports, officials said.
The unit, made up of six officers, monitors construction sites, investigates potential violations and ensures compliance with national, regional and local regulations. Its work is divided between on-site inspections — often conducted with labor and health authorities — and broader oversight of building activity, including in protected historic or landscape areas.
Common issues include unauthorized use of public land, noise disturbances and violations of planning restrictions. When irregularities are identified, the unit reports them to municipal authorities, which determine any penalties or corrective measures.
Officials said the increase in cases reflects both stronger enforcement and mounting pressure on the city’s urban fabric, driven in part by rising tourism and development.
