Before the start of the season Smena Minsk was transformed into new club FC Minsk, which overtook Smena's First League allocation, bypassing the Second League. Newly promoted Torpedo-SKA Minsk was disbanded with some of its facilities being inherited by Minsk.
Torpedo-Kadino Mogilev withdrew from the league and disbanded due to lack of financing. They were replaced by additionally promoted Polotsk, who finished 5th in last year's Second League. Two teams that finished above Polotsk and were also eligible for additional promotion (Spartak Shklov and Vertikal Kalinkovichi) refused the invitation due to insufficient financing. No other teams were promoted and the league was reduced from 16 to 14 clubs.