On enactment of “underground space law”

With urban development shifting from a phase of large-scale incremental expansion to one focused on intensive development with improved quality and efficiency, underground space is set to become a key direction for urban expansion. Currently, China lacks special and unified national legislation on underground space, while many places have issued local regulations and local government rules. Based on an overview of the issues in the management of underground space development and utilization, this study analyzes the necessity and feasibility of enacting an “underground space law”. It further proposes the establishment and improvement of relevant legal systems in areas such as management system, planning, land use, ownership registration, and construction and usage management.