Cuenca Councilors Want to Revisit a Control Ordinance Amid Security Complaints

Cuenca councilors are proposing that the city resume work on a Control Ordinance that was repealed more than a year ago. The discussion follows complaints about alleged clandestine businesses operating in residential areas, according to El Mercurio’s August 11 report.

The proposal gained momentum after Azuay Governor Xavier Bermúdez argued that the absence of the ordinance has made it harder to intervene in properties where these activities are suspected. Bermúdez said the ordinance would establish mechanisms for municipal commissioners to act with police support.

What the council is considering

Councilor Diana González said she would formally request that the project return to the Cantonal Council for consideration. Councilor Gustavo Valencia also supports reopening the discussion, but wants to review the provisions that contributed to the ordinance’s repeal.

The report says the city’s land-use and territorial-planning rules were not eliminated when the control ordinance was repealed. The disagreement includes rural land rules, minimum lot sizes, subdivision, and the legalization of inherited land for children.

The proposal still depends on the acting mayor, Marisol Peñaloza, placing the issue on the council agenda. It is therefore a pending political discussion, not a new rule already in force.

A practical note for renters

The report also explains that entering a private home is different from inspecting a commercial premises. María de los Ángeles Palacios, Azuay’s police-intendance official, said that a home requires another procedure and that authorities may need to open an investigation and obtain a judge’s authorization.

Her advice to the public was direct: before renting a home, verify the tenant’s identity, request a cédula, and try to learn the person’s background. That is useful advice for any landlord or property manager dealing with a new renter, especially when a residence is located in a mixed-use or fast-changing neighborhood.

For expats, watch whether the proposal reaches the council agenda and whether the city clarifies the rules for residential properties. The current debate is about enforcement and municipal authority; it does not by itself change the terms of an existing lease.

Source: El Mercurio