In the Polish spatial planning law one of basic principles is to preserve spatial order. However, the analysis of the law and its implementation show, that instead of spatial order, overall circumstances promote disorder. The analysis covers the law adopted in 2018, which aimed at boosting the development of housing. Findings show, that the new law may rather promote chaos in urban space. One of the drawbacks is undermining of the spatial order by creating the possibility of adopting resolutions pertaining to housing and accompanying services, that are contradictory to provisions of master plans.

The analysis of provisions of Local Spatial Management Plans and selected cases of practical implementation of such provisions showed, that the provisions of spatial law practically stay without any relation to rules of urban composition and spatial order. The research was limited to analysis of urban composition, without considering all the conditions for planning process and its results. The town planning is treated in this article as planned space resulted from clear urban concept based on general urban composition rules. Town planning does not refer in this case to spatial chaos which can be a result of implementation of Local Spatial Management Plan.

The development and urban planning affects the general spatial order. Continuously increasing chaos is caused, among other thing, by granting construction permit based on Zoning and Land Use decision. It’s one of the reason why communes do not pass Area Development Plans. Presented research determines the exact reasons this phenomenon. The article also analyses, based on case studies, the unlawful, unsupervised adoption of Zoning and Land Use decisions.

The colours of external architecture are crucial to the reception of urbanized space. An appropriate concept is necessary to maintain order and harmony of colours. Decision-making in this respect was analysed, based on Polish and Slovak legal acts. The formal and actual status was compared through analyses of local spatial development plans and site inspections. For a broader perspective, examples from some of the countries are presented. Using a survey, public knowledge of the current legal situation related to colour decision-making was investigated alongside preferences as to who should manage this issue. It was also investigated how space users assessed the external colours of buildings in the areas under study.