Building Permits in 2026: How to Get One Without the Stress

In 2026, a sweeping amendment to the Building Act is under consideration, which is expected to significantly alter the current rules once again. The Chamber of Deputies approved it in July, but the Senate rejected it on August 20, 2026, and the bill was sent back to the Chamber of Deputies. The amendment is therefore not yet in effect. The information in this article is therefore based on the rules that are currently in force and effective.

Not sure whether your project requires a permit or whether your application and supporting documents are prepared correctly? Send us the documentation and a description of the planned construction. We’ll review the legal requirements, point out any potential risks, and help you choose the right course of action with the building authority.

What is a building permit, and who needs one?

Currently, there is a single unified building permit process. The project approval process (formerly known as a building permit) is official authorization from the building authority that you may begin construction. This is not a mere formality; the state uses building permits to prevent dangerous, unsuitable, or overly creative constructions.

You will typically need a permit when building a new house, an addition, or a second story, as well as when construction modifications affect load-bearing structures. A slightly different process applies to a change in the use of a building—for example, if you want to convert an office into an apartment. This is handled separately. However, if the change in use is also associated with structural modifications, a standard project permit may be required.

What Types of Structures Does the Building Code Distinguish?

Structures are divided into several categories. This classification is important not only for builders themselves but also for government agencies, as it determines what permits you will need. Let’s take a clear look at each category.

The first group consists of minor structures, which are listed in Appendix No. 1 of the Building Code. These include, for example, fences, certain sheds, or structures with a maximum area of up to 40 m². But be careful with the well-known 40 m² threshold—it’s not the case that anything falling below this limit is automatically considered a minor structure. The law also takes other conditions into account, such as the structure’s height, the number of stories, the distance from the property line, or how much of the property remains capable of absorbing rainwater. For example, if a structure does not meet the required distance from the property line, it may fall under the category of simple structures, and a permit will be required.

It is also important to know that a structure intended for residential use or a garage is never considered a minor structure —these fall into stricter categories.

Another category consists of simple structures, listed in Appendix No. 2. This category includes most common single-family homes, recreational buildings, garages, as well as some agricultural structures. For these structures, the approval process is somewhat simpler than for large projects, but they are still subject to established rules.

A special group consists of designated structures, listed in Appendix No. 3. These typically include highways, railways, civil aviation structures, or certain large-scale energy projects. These structures are subject to stricter conditions and a more rigorous approval process.

Finally, there is a category of “other structures”—those that do not fall into any of the above-mentioned groups. These are often specific or less common structures that the law does not classify as minor, simple, or designated.

This classification has a significant impact on whether you will need a permit for your project and how complex the permitting process will be. Therefore, it is always a good idea to verify in advance which category your construction project falls into.

Not sure which category your construction project falls under or what the authorities will require of you? Contact the appropriate building authority. You can also request preliminary information to find out, for example, whether your project requires a permit and which authorities will review it.

What do I need to obtain a building permit?

• A completed application form —currently, the “Application for a Building or Facility Permit” form is used.
• Documentation regarding your project —this must clearly specify what you intend to build, where, and on what scale. For larger construction projects, design documentation from an architect is generally required; however, for some simpler projects, the law allows for a less rigorous process.
• Consent from the owner of the land or structure, if you are not the owner yourself. If you are building on your own land, you generally do not need to provide an extract from the land registry—the authorities will verify ownership themselves.
• Statements from utility providers and other relevant institutions, if required for your project—for example, regarding electricity, water, sewer, roads, or environmental protection.
• Additional documentation depending on the specific construction project —for some projects, the building authority may request further documents. However, if a required statement is missing, in certain cases the building authority will request it on its own.

How Does the Building Permit Process Work?

Once you have everything ready, you can submit your application. This marks the start of the building permit process. This is the process during which the building authority assesses whether everything complies with applicable regulations and the zoning plan, and whether it poses a threat to health, safety, or your neighbor’s rhododendrons. The procedure is as follows:

Once you have the necessary supporting documents, you can submit an application for a building or facility permit. You can do this electronically via the Builder’s Portal, but you can also still submit it in person or by mail. In practice, the application can also be submitted via a data box. You must attach the required documentation and other supporting materials to the application. If an opinion from a relevant authority is missing, this does not automatically mean you have to start over—the building authority can request it on its own (e.g., from the fire department, public health officials, or utility providers).  This is followed by a review and assessment, during which the authority checks the formal correctness of the application, the completeness of the documentation, and the opinions of the relevant authorities. If anything is missing or incorrect, you will be asked to provide additional information.

Ideally, this is followed by a decision granting the building permit —if everything is in order, the authority will issue a decision authorizing the construction. This decision may also specify conditions for the construction (e.g., how to protect the area surrounding the site, the permitted working hours, how to secure the construction site, etc.).

Sometimes everything goes smoothly the first time: the documentation is perfect, and the authority acts quickly. But then a neighbor comes along and says they object to the construction. However, not every neighbor is automatically a party to the proceedings—it must be a person whose property rights or other rights in rem may be directly affected by the building permit. Such a neighbor may file objections, and if they disagree with the outcome of the proceedings, they may appeal the decision. The appeal is then decided by a higher administrative authority. It’s therefore a good idea to reach an agreement with your neighbors in advance; a friendly approach often helps more than legal technicalities.

Simply obtaining the permit does not mean you’re completely in the clear yet. You may not begin construction until the decision becomes final. Parties to the proceedings generally have 15 days from the date of notification of the decision to file an appeal. If someone files an appeal in a timely manner, the decision generally does not become final, and the proceedings are extended pending review by the appellate authority.

Is the building authority repeatedly asking you for additional documents, has a neighbor filed objections, or are you unsure whether the authority is proceeding correctly? In such cases, it’s worth having the notice, decision, or the entire file reviewed by a lawyer. We can assess what you actually need to provide, whether your neighbor’s objections are valid, and how to defend yourself if the proceedings are being unduly prolonged.

How long does it take to get a building permit?

There is no clear-cut answer to the question of how long it takes to obtain a building permit. Officially, the building authority has 30 or 60 days to make a decision. For simple structures, the deadline is 30 days; in other cases, the deadline for a decision is set at 60 days (the same as for structures that were permitted under the old Building Act). But if there are problems with the documentation, a neighbor files an appeal, required opinions are missing, or a map from 1962 goes missing, it can take as long as 3–6 months. Sometimes even longer.

An Example from Our Law Practice

For example, we represented a client who purchased a plot of land intended for personal recreational use. He wanted to build a small cabin on one of the plots and then rent it out on a short-term basis to guests as glamping accommodations. He assumed that it would be possible to build a small “tiny house” on recreational land without a complicated permitting process, and he was primarily interested in whether there was a legal way to offer it for rent, for example, through Airbnb.

First, we reviewed the building regulations for the proposed cabin and the zoning regulations for the specific area in the local master plan. The mere designation of a plot as recreational does not automatically mean you can build any structure on it and then rent it out commercially. Although the Building Code classifies structures up to 55 m² on recreational land as “minor structures” under certain conditions, the exact provisions of the law and the zoning documentation are decisive. Even designating a structure as a “mobile home” or “tiny house” is not a shortcut around building codes—even a product permanently located in one place can be considered a structure under building law.

In the client’s case, we determined that the simplified “minor structure” procedure could not be used. At the same time, however, the text of the local zoning plan permitted small lodging facilities in the area in question under certain conditions. We therefore advised the client not to present the cabin from the outset as a structure intended exclusively for family recreation—which would only be rented out later—but to state the structure’s actual purpose at the time of permitting.

We therefore had the project reviewed in advance by the building authority, worked with the designer to modify the documentation so that it complied with the requirements of the zoning plan as well as the intended lodging operation, and addressed, in particular, the building’s capacity, parking, wastewater management, and other requirements related to its use. We then helped the client prepare the documentation for the project permit. The building authority approved the cabin for its intended lodging purpose, and upon completion, the client was able to legally use it for short-term lodging and operate the corresponding lodging services.

Can I start building immediately after the permit is issued?

No, you may not begin construction until the permit becomes final. Parties to the proceedings generally have 15 days from the notification of the decision to file an appeal. If someone files an appeal within that time, the permit generally does not become final, and the proceedings are extended pending review by the appeals authority.

Before construction begins, you must also notify the building authority of the date you will start work and who will be carrying out the construction. For self-construction projects, you must also designate a site manager or a person responsible for construction supervision. However, once the permit becomes legally binding, you no longer need any further general approval to carry out the construction.

How long is a building permit valid?

Once you obtain a building permit, it’s a cause for great joy. But be careful—its validity isn’t indefinite . It’s typically valid for 2 years from the date it becomes legally binding. In justified cases, the building authority may specify a longer period —up to a maximum of 5 years—at the time the permit is issued. You must actually begin construction within this period. And no, it’s not enough to drive a stake into the ground and call it a groundbreaking ceremony. If you begin work on the project on time, the permit’s validity will be extended to 10 years from the date it becomes final, or from the date the decision to extend it becomes final. If you do not start construction on time and do not extend the permit’s validity, the permit will expire.

However, if you know you won’t be able to start construction on time, you can apply for an extension of the building permit’s validity. But you must do so before the original permit expires.

How exactly do you apply for an extension?

1. Fill out the form used to amend a permit. In it, provide details about the original permit and the requested change to its validity period. You must submit the request before the original permit expires.
2. Attach any relevant changes (e.g., an updated project if the conditions in the area have changed, or statements from the relevant authorities if the office requests them).
3. Sign and submit the application. You can do this in person at the building authority’s reception desk, by certified mail, or electronically via a data box.

When making its decision, the building authority will primarily verify whether the conditions under which the original permit was issued have changed since its issuance. You must apply for an extension before the current validity of the permit expires. The authority may extend the permit repeatedly, but each extension may not exceed 2 years. The good news is that if you submit your application on time, the permit will not expire before the authority issues a final decision on the application.

Summary

First, determine which category your project falls under. Minor structures may not require a permit, while single-family homes and other simple structures do require one. The 40 m² threshold itself is not the deciding factor—the law also stipulates other conditions.

In practice, the biggest complications arise from incomplete documentation, objections from other parties, or delays on the part of the authorities. That’s why it pays to prepare your application carefully and respond promptly if problems arise. A comprehensive amendment to the Building Code is still in the legislative process as of September 2026, so it is important to base your actions on the currently effective rules and to monitor further developments.