Towards a New Freedom of Living: Legalizing Vehicle Dwelling for Digital Nomads and the Unhoused

Amendments to the Public Order Act (ZJRM-1)

Article 1 (Amendment to Article 10)

The existing Article 10 is supplemented with new paragraphs 2 through 8, which read:

(2) Overnight stays or dwelling in vehicles in public parking areas is permitted if:

• it does not disturb public order or peace,
• no external equipment is deployed (awnings, tables, chairs, grills, cookers, etc.),
• the same vehicle is not parked in the same place for more than five consecutive days,
• the vehicle is properly registered and roadworthy according to motor vehicle regulations,
• after five days, the same vehicle must not return to that parking location for at least fourteen consecutive days, to prevent circumvention by temporarily leaving and returning.

(3) For the purposes of this article, “dwelling in a vehicle” means temporary or longer-term sleeping, resting, or living in a vehicle without external impacts on the surroundings. Such use shall not be considered camping under Article 18 of this Act.

(4) Vehicle dwelling is prohibited in the following locations:

• lawns, parks, and public walking areas,
• areas designated by municipalities as non-permissible for overnight stays,
• natural and cultural heritage sites or protected areas, where prohibited by special legislation.

(5) If the conditions in paragraphs (2) and (3) are met, such vehicle dwelling shall not be considered a public order offense or illegal camping, and is permitted without additional restrictions, except those listed in paragraph (4).

(6) A vehicle used for dwelling must be registered and technically sound. Deregistered, partially disassembled, or clearly unroadworthy vehicles shall not be considered suitable for dwelling under this Act.

(7) A municipality or parking operator (including concessionaires) may provide access to utility hookups (electricity, water, waste disposal), but shall not make vehicle hookup a requirement for the right to park and dwell. Use of such hookups must remain voluntary and may not serve as a precondition for overnight stays.

(8) For the purposes of this Act, a public parking area means any surface owned by the municipality or state intended for general vehicle use, regardless of operator. Parking lots designated solely for residents or specific buildings (e.g. apartment blocks) are not considered public.

Article 2 (Amendment to Article 18)

The title of Article 18 is changed to:

(Camping and external use of space)

Two new paragraphs are added:

(2) Without prejudice to Article 10, camping shall only be considered to occur when external equipment or surrounding space is used (awnings, chairs, cookers, etc.) or when the vehicle serves as an overnight shelter in locations where this is not explicitly permitted, and the conditions of Article 10 are not met.

(3) Vehicle dwelling without external influence that complies with Article 10 shall not be considered camping and is allowed on public parking areas, unless a municipal ordinance explicitly prohibits it under the 33% limit set in Article 31.

Article 3 (Addition of new Article 31 – Transitional provisions)

A new Article 31 is added:

Article 31 (Ensuring access to vehicle dwelling)

(1) All municipalities must, within 6 months of this Act’s entry into force, define by ordinance which parking areas prohibit vehicle dwelling. If no ordinance is adopted in time, it shall be considered that vehicle dwelling is allowed on all public parking areas under that municipality’s jurisdiction in accordance with this Act.

(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), municipalities must ensure that dwelling in vehicles under Article 10 is allowed on at least 33% of all public parking areas within their territory. This requirement is binding and may not be overridden, reduced, or reinterpreted.

(2a) Municipalities may designate paid zones for vehicle dwelling. In such cases, at least 50% of the areas under paragraph (2) must be available free of charge or for a symbolic fee. Prices must not be discriminatory, must be clearly defined and publicly posted in advance, and must reflect actual maintenance costs.

(3) If a municipality fails to meet these obligations, it shall be considered that vehicle dwelling is permitted on all public parking areas within its jurisdiction until a compliant ordinance is adopted.

Article 4 (Entry into force)

This Act shall enter into force fifteen days after its publication in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia.

Explanation

The purpose of these amendments is to:

• enable the right to live in vehicles for social, economic, or lifestyle reasons,
• clearly distinguish between respectful vehicle dwelling and unauthorized camping,
• prevent unjust punishment and harassment of individuals who live peacefully in their vehicles,
• ensure that municipalities cannot arbitrarily restrict such dwelling without clear and transparent regulation,
• prevent misuse of public areas by unregistered or unsafe vehicles,
• prevent covert exclusion through compulsory hookups or excessive pricing,
• block circumvention of the five-day limit by short-term relocations,
• ensure fair and shared use of urban space, with a balanced mix of paid and free parking for vehicle dwellers.

On Inequality: What Gini Doesn't Tell Us

The combination of wage leveling through progressive income taxes and low property taxes ends up taxing the process of getting wealthy, not actual wealth. This kind of policy weakens motivation for productive work, limits upward mobility, and ironically fuels long-term wealth inequality.

Equality of income and wealth is a desirable goal for any society—but it matters deeply how we achieve it. Healthy equality comes when we empower people to be creative and productive, so that anyone who puts in a reasonable amount of effort can secure a decent life and a chance to grow.

This kind of organic, self-driven equality isn’t captured by metrics like the Gini coefficient. For example, if people can, through hard work, build a home, support a family, take vacations, and educate their children—then it really doesn’t matter if ten people in the country are billionaires. That kind of wealth inequality may actually inspire others to strive and achieve more.

But when inequality stems from artificial scarcity—like restricted housing construction that drives prices up and leaves half a million Slovenians without homes—or from limited access to professions due to state-protected monopolies, it becomes dangerous. It stifles growth, creates existential pressure, and erodes social stability.

The state should promote healthy equality—through free markets, open access to capital and innovation, fair competition, and ensuring basic goods are accessible to everyone. What we should avoid is the unhealthy kind of equality imposed through progressive taxes, bans, monopolies, nationalization, and other socialist-style policies that distort incentives and limit opportunity.

The Free Settlements Act (ZSN-1) Proposal: A New Vision for Independent Living in Slovenia

Article 1: Purpose

This law establishes the conditions for creating Free Settlements, where individuals and families can freely, responsibly, and innovatively build their own homes without unnecessary bureaucratic obstacles.

Article 2: Definition of a Free Settlement

A Free Settlement is an area that:

• is designated by a decision of the competent ministry,
• is intended for individual construction for personal housing needs,
• is limited to a maximum of 1,000 residents and no more than 300 residential units.

Article 3: Provision of Land

Land for Free Settlements is provided by the state from the fund of state forests and lands.

Settlements must be located within reasonable proximity to urban centers, generally no more than 30 minutes' drive from city centers.

Article 4: Accessibility of Free Settlements

The state must ensure that, in each statistical region, unoccupied land is available in Free Settlements sufficient to house at least 5% of the region's population.

Unoccupied land must be ready for allocation without additional spatial planning procedures.

Article 5: Right of Use

The right to use land is granted to an individual as a lifelong residential right.

This right can only be transferred to a legal partner or direct descendants, provided they continue to permanently reside on the plot.

The right of use is non-transferable to third parties and cannot be freely sold.

The user may, at their own request, exchange the right of use for land in another Free Settlement, with the consent of both parties.

Article 6: Priority Allocation

Priority is given to:

• individuals who have completed military service for the Republic of Slovenia,
• professional firefighters and rescuers,
• housing seekers without property ownership.

Remaining land is allocated through a public call, without discrimination.

Article 6.a: Land Allocation by Lottery

If there are multiple eligible candidates in the same priority group for land in a settlement, the selection is made by public lottery.

The micro-location of individual plots within the Free Settlement is also determined by public lottery.

The lottery is conducted by the competent state authority in a transparent, public, and verifiable manner.

Article 7: Construction

Construction does not require a building permit. It is sufficient to notify the start of construction with a basic description of the building and a declaration of responsibility for its stability and safety.

Article 8: Plot

Each residential unit is entitled to a plot size between 300 and 600 m².

The minimum distance between buildings is 3 meters, unless neighbors agree otherwise.

Article 9: Materials and Technologies

The use of all natural, recycled, or experimental materials without industrial certifications is permitted. Alternative building techniques and residential designs are allowed. The builder is solely responsible for the durability, safety, and functionality of their construction.

Article 10: Infrastructure and Land Development

The state provides basic external infrastructure to the settlement’s boundary, which includes:

• an access road,
• electrical supply,
• water connection,
• basic telecommunications connection.

The cost of basic infrastructure is covered by a one-time contribution or installment payments, up to a maximum of €10,000 per residential unit.

If commercial services are voluntarily established within the settlement, the state may proportionally reduce the overall utility contribution for residents.

Article 10.a: Internal Infrastructure of Free Settlements

Internal infrastructure (internal roads, paths, communal spaces) may be established and maintained voluntarily by the residents. The state does not manage the internal infrastructure, except to ensure minimal safety.

Article 10.b: Commercial Land in Free Settlements

When planning Free Settlements, the state must allocate between 2% and 5% of the total settlement area for commercial land. This land is intended for basic services for residents, such as shops, kindergartens, healthcare services, postal points, hospitality, and other forms of local supply.

Commercial land is leased through a public auction for a concession granted for a specified period, typically 30 years. The right to use commercial land is non-transferable without the consent of the competent authority and reverts to the state after the concession expires.

Article 11: Use of Dwellings

The user must reside permanently on the plot. Leasing to third parties is allowed only if the user remains permanently present and the primary residential purpose is maintained.

Article 12: Termination of Right of Use

The right of use terminates:

• with the permanent cessation of residence,
• in the case of severe environmental damage or damage to communal infrastructure,
• with permanent change of land use contrary to residential purposes.

Upon termination of the right of use, the user is entitled to a proportional refund of the paid utility contribution:

• less than 5 years of residence: 80% refund,
• 5–10 years of residence: 50% refund,
• more than 10 years of residence: no refund.

Article 13: Encouraging Innovation

Free Settlements are zones for the free experimentation of innovative residential technologies. The state does not prescribe the form, materials, or construction methods, except for basic safety principles.

Article 14: Special Status

Free Settlements hold the status of special public interest. Local authorities cannot prevent their establishment through spatial acts, ordinances, or referendums.

Article 14.a: Priority Over Other Regulations

The establishment of Free Settlements on land owned by the Republic of Slovenia is carried out directly under this law, regardless of the provisions of other regulations, including those concerning spatial planning, environmental protection, forest conservation, agricultural land, or state-owned real estate management.

Spatial acts, plans, protective regimes, and other regulations do not apply to Free Settlements unless explicitly provided by this law. The decision to establish a Free Settlement serves as the legal basis for changing land use and for all land registry procedures.

Article 15: Transitional Provisions

The Government of the Republic of Slovenia shall adopt the first program for establishing Free Settlements within six months after this law comes into effect.

Article 16: Validity

This law shall enter into force on the thirtieth day following its publication in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia.