The enacted bill establishes how roads are to be recognized in areas outside the town plan.

A new bill from the Ministry of Environment and Energy (YPΕΝ)—passed on November 11, 2026, and amending Article 251 of Law 5306/2026—establishes a specific procedure for the legal recognition of municipal and community roads. This recognition is a critical factor in determining whether a plot of land outside the official town plan is considered "buildable" (i.e., meets the requirements for legal construction).

Key aspects of the regulation:

• Scope (Which roads are covered): The regulation applies only to roads that connect settlements (within the same or adjacent municipalities) or connect settlements to international, national, or provincial roads (it does not apply to simple rural tracks or footpaths). If multiple roads exist between the same settlements, only the primary one is recognized.

• Recognition Procedure (via Presidential Decree): The designation of roads as "primary" or "sole" will henceforth be effected through a Presidential Decree, issued upon the proposal of the Ministry of Environment and Energy (YPΕΝ) and following an opinion from the competent Council for Urban Planning Issues and Disputes (SYPOTHA). Recording and Ratification: The requirement to record the municipal road network—broken down by municipal unit—and to have it ratified by the Decentralized Administration remains in effect. This process is based on aerial photographs taken prior to July 27, 1977.

• Recognition by Exception: It is permissible to recognize an individual road before the overall ratification of the network is complete, provided that a specific technical study is prepared.

• Parliamentary Reservation: The Scientific Service of the Hellenic Parliament has requested clarification on whether the Presidential Decree (P.D.) will explicitly define the circumstances under which such exceptional recognitions are permitted, as well as the required content of the technical studies, in order to prevent misinterpretations and delays.

• Criteria for Plot Suitability (Artiotita): The recognition of a road is linked to building regulations (the general rule being a minimum area of ​​4,000 sq.m. with a 25-meter frontage—or, in specific cases, a 45-meter frontage and a 50-meter depth). However, road recognition alone is insufficient; all other building conditions and environmental restrictions must also be met.

Practical Implications: The law does not provide for the automatic recognition of roads, nor does it result in a general liberalization of development in areas outside the official town plan (i.e., "off-plan" development). The issuance of a building permit requires a review of title deeds and historical documentation, as well as waiting for the completion of official registrations, the imposition of any penalties, and the enactment of the relevant Presidential Decrees.