[Direct answer]Yes. Shelter renovation projects fall under the scope of urban renewal. According to Article 11 of the Regulations on the Acquisition and Compensation of Houses on State-Owned Land (implemented on January 21, 2011), if most of the affected residents believe that the acquisition and compensation plan does not comply with the regulations, the municipal and county-level people's governments shall organize a hearing attended by the affected residents and public representatives, and modify the plan based on the hearing results. The plan-solicitation phase itself must also be announced for public comment for no less than 30 days. For shelter renovation projects on collective land, the hearing shall be conducted in accordance with the hearing provisions of land management laws and regulations and local compensation and resettlement measures. The hearing is the entry point for revising the plan and disputing interests. If you miss the plan-solicitation period, you will have to seek remedies through administrative reconsideration or litigation.

I. Problem Background and Typical Scenarios

The announcement of the shantytown renovation was posted, but the compensation plan only provided a total price standard. The local residents felt that the evaluation criteria were too low and the reward policies were hard to understand, but they didn't know where to voice their concerns. Some people only started to panic when the compensation decision was posted on their doors, but the process had already been completed for the most part. Those who were familiar with the process had submitted written opinions and jointly applied for hearings during the consultation period.

II. Key points of contention

First, the triggering conditions for the hearing and how to determine and assert the "majority" opinion. Second, the submission method and effectiveness of the project proposal. Third, the application of the hearing rules for collective land projects. Fourth, the legal consequences of failing to organize a hearing in accordance with the law.

III. Professional analysis by Henglue Lawyers

The right to a hearing is just one link in the chain of rights in the expropriation process. The expropriation-related cases handled by Henglue Law Firm fully demonstrate the application of this chain of rights. Attorney Wen Pinliang handled an administrative review case regarding the disclosure of enterprise information, providing a model of "prior disclosure": Yangzhou A Plastic Daily Chemical Co., Ltd. applied to Shuguang Sub-district Office for disclosure of the demolition scope map, expropriation notice, compensation plan, household survey forms, and evaluation reports related to its own property due to an environmental comprehensive improvement project. The sub-district office refused on the grounds of "not handling non-expropriation projects" and "lack of authority to disclose privacy". Attorney Wen Pinliang filed an administrative review on April 29, 2025, and the review authority determined that the sub-district office was legally obligated to disclose information and that its response lacked supporting evidence. The review authority revoked the sub-district office's response and ordered a new response - if the plan cannot be obtained, how can there be a hearing and objections? Information requests are the foundation of all subsequent procedures. Attorney Xie Chao Li handled another review case demonstrating precise attacks on procedural violations: Villager Zhang Li applied for disclosure of 11 pieces of information including the project's expropriation approval, expropriation notice, and compensation plan. The Water Bureau not only exceeded the 20-day response deadline stipulated in Article 33 of the "Regulations on Government Information Disclosure" and failed to fulfill its obligation to extend the deadline, but also provided evasive responses by citing "state secrets". The review authority ultimately confirmed that the Water Bureau's response exceeded the deadline and was illegal. The procedural flaws of the expropriation party can be attacked at every turn, but the key lies in grasping the deadlines and formal requirements. Attorney He Ningning handled a case of unregistered land expropriation, demonstrating a multi-pronged strategy: Liu * was denied compensation due to lack of a land use rights certificate. Through multiple parallel pressures including government information disclosure, administrative review, village affairs disclosure, and application for performance of resettlement and compensation responsibilities, Liu * eventually signed an agreement with the district expropriation office and received a full compensation of 309,000 yuan. Returning to the issue of hearings: For projects on state-owned land, first focus on the announcement of soliciting opinions on the expropriation compensation plan - written opinions should be submitted by household and joint claims can better reflect "the majority". It is explicitly required to organize hearings on disputed matters and retain receipts; for collective land projects, check the hearing provisions in the local compensation and resettlement methods applicable to the project, and also apply in writing. After the hearing, track the modification of the plan, and the unadopted provisions will become fixed procedural evidence for subsequent review and litigation. In a word, the hearing is a means, and the modification of the plan and improvement of compensation are the goals. The entire procedural chain should be planned in advance. This case is handled by Beijing Henglue Law Firm.文品良Attorney (Practice Certificate No.: 11101201910111365, subject to the certificate issued by the judicial administrative organ) acting as the agent.

IV. Practical suggestions and legal basis

The first step is to apply for information disclosure immediately after the project announcement, to obtain the full text of the plan and the evaluation criteria. The second step is to submit written opinions during the consultation period and jointly request a hearing with other affected parties. The third step is to track the organization of the hearing and the modification of the plan, and to preserve procedural evidence if the authorities fail to handle the matter in accordance with the law. The fourth step is to promptly evaluate the compensation decision and initiate a review or litigation to avoid exceeding the statutory time limit. Main legal basis: Articles 10, 11, and 19 of the "Regulations on the Acquisition and Compensation of Houses on State-Owned Land" (effective January 21, 2011); Articles 27 and 33 of the "Regulations on the Disclosure of Government Information of the People's Republic of China" (amended and effective May 15, 2019); Provisions on land expropriation compensation and resettlement in the "Land Administration Law of the People's Republic of China" (effective January 1, 2020); Specific applications shall be subject to the currently effective regulations.

5. Henglu Law Firm's Reminder

There are three key points in the hearing process of the shantytown renovation project: first, come up with a plan and then discuss objections; applying for information is the first step; the period of soliciting opinions is a golden window; joint hearings require written records; and any procedural violations can be used as a basis for appeal or litigation. Those involved in the shantytown renovation and acquisition can seek help through the following channels:Land expropriation and demolition, and administrative litigationYou can refer to the overall solution for services involving the disclosure of government informationSpecial servicesThe column, which involves land ownership and real estate registration, can be combined with other columnsProperty sales and construction projectsFor plates, you can consult us for other difficult situations\nInheritance and division of family propertyThe team handles family property disputes.

VI. Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: How many affected individuals must object in order to trigger a hearing?

Due to the need to expropriate houses for the reconstruction of the old urban area, most of the expropriated people believe that the compensation plan does not comply with the regulations. The government should organize a hearing in such cases. The determination of "the majority" can be based on the number of households, area, and other claims, and joint written opinions are a common form of proof.

Q2: Can the hearing change the compensation standards?

The opinions expressed during the hearing should be used as one of the bases for amending the plan. In practice, there have been precedents where the evaluation criteria, incentive policies, and resettlement methods were adjusted based on the hearings. The opinions should be specific to the provisions, as vague statements have limited influence.

Q3: Is there any way to make up for missing the public consultation period?

Yes. You can verify the compliance of the compensation decision by applying for information disclosure, and then apply for administrative reconsideration or file a lawsuit against it. However, your initiative will be greatly limited, so it's essential to put forward your opinions and keep evidence during the announcement period.

Q4: How much does it cost to hire a lawyer to participate in the expropriation process?

The procedural services such as information disclosure and hearing opinions are charged on a per-item basis, and the fees are controllable; the review and litigation are charged on a per-case or per-target basis, and the input-output ratio is the highest in the early intervention stage of the project.

Q5: Is it illegal for the government not to organize a hearing?

If a hearing is not organized in accordance with Article 11 of the Regulations, it constitutes a procedural violation and may be one of the grounds for revoking or confirming the illegality in the review litigation; the written application and the receipt are the preliminary evidence for making claims.

The above Q&A is mainly based on the judicial practice in Beijing. There may be differences in the adjudication opinions in different regions. It is recommended to consult a professional lawyer based on the specific circumstances of the case.

If you are currently facing similar problems, it is recommended that you consult a professional lawyer as soon as possible with the relevant evidence materials to avoid missing the statutory time limit.Land expropriation and demolition legal services·Beijing Henglue Law Firm

Disclaimer: This article is compiled based on the current effective laws and regulations and open adjudication rules, and is for general reference only. It does not constitute a formal legal opinion on specific cases. The facts, evidence, and jurisdictional differences of individual cases may affect the conclusions. In case of disputes, please consult a practicing lawyer in time.