Possibility of issuing a building permit before the ratification of the Implementation Act

The General Directorate of Urban Planning at the Ministry of Environment and Energy has clarified the situation regarding the possibility of issuing building permits in areas where the implementation of the urban planning study is still underway. This statement came in response to a related question submitted to Parliament by the Member of Parliament for Ioannina, Mr. Stavros Kalogiannis, as reported by B2Green.

In his question, Mr. Kalogiannis asked the Ministry to reconsider Circular 18734/216/2020. The aim was to allow construction in developing areas, provided that the owner owes no land contribution or the contribution owed is less than or equal to the obligation of the property (in line with the provisions of the earlier Circular 106/1986).

The response from the General Directorate of Urban Planning, forwarded by Deputy Minister of Environment and Energy Nikos Tagaras, clarifies the following:

• Legal Framework:  The issue of building permits in densely built-up areas—as defined prior to the abolition of their classification under Laws 2508/97 and 4315/14—is now definitively regulated by Law 4819/21 (Article 121, par. 6).

The New Regulation:  According to the new provision, in densely built-up areas covered by urban planning studies building permits may be issued prior to the ratification of the implementing act, subject to two basic conditions:

1. All cash contribution obligations must have been settled.

2. Any land contribution due must have been converted into cash, in accordance with the conditions set forth in paragraph 10 of Article 43 of Law 1337/83.

• Repeal of Previous Circular: Consequently, Chapter A of the previous explanatory Circular (1874/216/2020) is no longer applicable, as it is fully covered by the newer provisions of Law 4819/21.