JATILUWIH, Bali — Authorities in Tabanan have sealed a two-story restaurant project in Jatiluwih, one of Bali’s best-known rice terrace destinations, over alleged zoning violations. But the owner is questioning why his building was targeted while others in the area remain standing.
The restaurant, owned by I Wayan Subadra, was sealed on Monday, November 2, in Gunung Sari hamlet, Jatiluwih village, Penebel district. Officials said its permanent steel and concrete structure violated building restrictions in an area designated for agricultural protection.
Subadra, however, said he had invested hundreds of millions of rupiah in the project, including money raised by mortgaging inherited family land. He insisted that he was not asking for special treatment, only for the same rules to apply to everyone.
Owner Disputes Decision
Speaking to detikBali after the sealing, Subadra questioned why his restaurant was being singled out when other buildings in Jatiluwih had also faced scrutiny over planning regulations.
He said his project was among 13 buildings previously inspected by a special committee of the Bali Provincial Legislative Council, known as Pansus TRAP, which handles spatial planning, assets and licensing issues.
Subadra said he understood the committee’s earlier moratorium recommendation to mean that owners of existing buildings could continue developing their properties.
Local authorities have rejected that interpretation, saying the moratorium did not authorize additional permanent construction.
The owner also defended his decision to use steel and concrete instead of a semi-permanent structure, arguing that the materials would last longer. He said the restaurant was designed with a second floor so visitors could enjoy views of the surrounding rice terraces.
Subadra said he had stopped construction following the sealing but intended to continue challenging the decision, describing the planned business as a source of income for his family.
Officials Say Warnings Date Back to 2025
Tabanan Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) chief I Putu Agus Hendra Manik Astawa said the building’s permanent structure was incompatible with the area’s zoning restrictions.
According to Astawa, the owner had been warned repeatedly before authorities moved to seal the project.
Bali Post reported that steel columns were already standing when Pansus TRAP inspected the area in May 2025. The Tabanan Public Works Department subsequently issued three formal warning letters, known as SP1, SP2 and SP3, but construction continued.
Officials inspected the site again on October 13, 2026, and discussed the findings at a spatial planning forum six days later. The authorities then moved to stop the project.
On November 3, Astawa warned that further violations could result in criminal proceedings involving police and prosecutors. There was no confirmation that Subadra had been charged with a criminal offense.
Traditional Village Says It Never Approved the Project
The dispute also involves Gunung Sari’s customary village authorities, whose building guidelines are intended to protect Jatiluwih’s traditional landscape.
Customary village head I Ketut Widadi said Subadra’s project had not received the village’s recommendation.
Under local customary requirements, tourism-related buildings should generally use semi-permanent designs, with around 80 percent of their materials consisting of wood or other natural materials.
Widadi said the village had also examined whether outside investors were involved. According to the owner’s account, however, the project was financed with his own funds.
Jatiluwih village head I Nengah Kartika separately said local officials had urged Subadra two or three times to stop construction, but the warnings had not been followed.
Why Was the Project Allowed to Continue?
The case has also raised questions about how consistently building restrictions are enforced in Jatiluwih.
Subadra maintains that other buildings remain standing despite having been examined by the same legislative committee. Authorities have not provided, in the reports reviewed, a complete comparison of those buildings’ permits, zoning status or enforcement history.
There is also the question of timing. If officials had already warned the owner in 2025, why did construction continue until the project was sealed in November 2026?
Bali Post reported that renewed inspections followed the circulation of construction footage on social media. While officials have outlined the warnings and inspections leading to the sealing, it remains unclear why earlier interventions failed to stop the work.
The available reports do not establish whether other buildings are in the same legal position as Subadra’s restaurant. Nor has the full text of the moratorium recommendation been independently examined by The Bali Times.
UNESCO Has Raised Concerns About Jatiluwih
The dispute comes as Jatiluwih faces growing pressure to balance tourism development with the protection of its rice terraces.
Jatiluwih is part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Cultural Landscape of Bali Province, recognized for its traditional subak irrigation system and the close relationship between farming, culture and religion.
In a 2025 decision, UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee warned that tourism development was placing increasing pressure on the landscape, particularly around Jatiluwih. It called for stronger enforcement of land-use regulations and better protection of rice terraces.
Indonesia has been asked to submit an updated conservation report by December 1, 2026.
For now, Subadra’s restaurant project remains halted. The dispute leaves two issues unresolved: whether the owner misunderstood the restrictions governing his property, and whether those restrictions are being applied consistently across Jatiluwih.
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