In the article four phases of becoming and development of the institute of administrative responsibility for offences in the area of environmental protection are allocated. The article focuses on imperfection of Administrative code of USSR (1927) which, in particular, provide the administrative law protection to small number of natural sites. Instability of legislation in specified area is found out in constant and inconsistent updates of administrative responsibility which has fluctuated. Contradictions are identified between declarative content of laws in the area of nature protection and by-laws that enabled uncontrolled destruction of natural sites.