Installation of barriers in residential courtyards: is it legal?

Recently, a new trend has been observed in residential complexes in Baku.

Residents, on their own initiative, are installing barriers (automatic barriers) at the entrance to the courtyards of apartment buildings. The goal is simple: to prevent parking of vehicles belonging to outsiders on the adjacent territory.

According to BAKU.WS, in many buildings, the remote controls for these devices are distributed among the residents.

Thus, only residents of the building can enter the courtyard. This not only reduces parking problems but also maintains order in the area.

However, important questions arise: Is this step legal? Is the courtyard of the building private property of the residents? How will emergency services or ambulances be able to enter the courtyard in case of an emergency?

BAKU.WS sent an inquiry on this issue to the Ministry of Emergency Situations (MES). In response, the State Fire Supervision Service of the ministry indicated that the installation of any obstacles, including barriers, on the paths to water sources used for firefighting and in courtyards is prohibited by law:

"According to the decree of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan No. 143 dated April 4, 2016, on the approval of special construction standards for physical protection and equipping with engineering security systems of vital facilities subject to protection in the Republic of Azerbaijan, the use of automatic barriers, that is, barriers, is allowed for physical protection of the territory of these facilities (the list of which is approved by another decree of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan). In other cases, since this issue is not regulated, in accordance with subparagraph 3.3 of the fire safety rules, we once again report that the installation of obstacles on the entry and exit routes of residential buildings is not permitted."

Banu Gsueinli