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Getting your building permit in Croatia involves many steps and documents. Some are mandatory, while others are optional, depending on the size and type of your house or apartment project. Here we present all the information you need to know before starting your construction project. If you want to build a new house or renovate an existing one in Croatia, there are some essential regulations you will need to be aware of before getting started.
The building permit is a document that authorizes you to start building construction. It allows you to prepare your plans, get materials, and hire contractors for construction. It also allows you to obtain the necessary permits and licenses before starting the work.
Local authorities grant building permits, so there is no central application procedure. The procedure differs from one municipality to another and depends on the type of project and its size. Nevertheless, you will usually have to submit several documents proving that you meet all legal requirements for construction work on your property. These documents include proof of ownership (such as a title deed), proof that you are legally allowed to carry out construction work, a plan indicating where construction work is going to be carried out, and proof that it is not prohibited by law (this could be a notice from Zagreb County Administrative Court or other courts). You will also need to provide an estimate of costs required for carrying out the work and proof of payment for any costs incurred during construction, such as materials and equipment used during construction.
The procedure for checking the conditions for building permits in Croatia is similar to the one at the beginning of the construction process. You need to check whether you meet all requirements required by law before getting your building permit. There are two main conditions that you should check before applying:
- Is it permitted to build?
Building a house or any other building on your property is prohibited if any safety and health risks are associated with construction work, such as water leaks, falling debris, or other dangers. You can check whether building a house or any other building on your property is permitted here.
- Is it possible?
If you want to carry out construction work, your plans should be sufficiently detailed and well-organized. The Building Regulations (Zakon o gradnji) stipulate that plans should be drawn up to meet certain standards and specifications for constructing buildings. Your plans should also indicate where construction work will be carried out, the number of floors, area, and type of materials used in those areas, as well as the location of various electrical installations, plumbing, and sewage systems. This way, workers will know where to place their tools and equipment during construction. It is also important that your plans show how all parts of your project fit together – how they were built and how they will be connected later on.
To start construction in Croatia, you must have an official building permit. If you have already started the work without a permit, it is recommended that you stop immediately and get one from local authorities. This will ensure that your work will be carried out legally and according to all applicable regulations.
Building permits in Croatia are free of charge for most types of projects (except for commercial buildings). However, if your project is bigger than 10 square meters, it will cost around 40 kunas (5 euros) per square meter of floor area (with 500m2 being around 2500 euros). There are some exceptions for the free building permit:
- If you are building a house, you will need a separate application for this, which will cost around 7500 kunas.
- For construction work on buildings that do not have their foundations, such as a tent or trailer, the plan must include details of where to place the foundation. This is because there is no "permitted" place for foundations in Croatia other than in areas with special construction permits. Construction work on buildings without foundations is prohibited by law.
- If you are building a house or any other building, you must submit an application for construction works (for example, if you want to build a garage or any further extension) to local authorities before starting your project. This will cost around 4500 kunas (6 euros).
The duration of the building permit is usually around 1-3 weeks. The exact time depends on many factors, such as the number of documents required for your application and if you have any outstanding work orders or fines.
The building permit does not expire. However, you will need to renew it every one-two year. The duration of the building permit depends on the type of project and its size. A residential project will usually be valid for five years from the date of issue. An apartment building will usually be useful for ten years from the date of issue. A commercial project will usually be valid for five years from the date of issue.
You will also need to send notifications of your project to local authorities within a certain period.
The duration of construction can vary from a few months to several years. However, it is recommended to start work as soon as you have an official permit.
You will not be fined if the building permit was issued after you started working on your project. However, you will need to pay a fine if you have not started the construction work before the expiration date of the building permit or before completing some other work (such as electrical installation). If you do not pay the fine, your construction work will be stopped, and it may even result in a demolition order from local authorities.
You can apply for your building permit at the local authority office in your municipality. Most local authorities' offices are located in the center of towns.
You can check your building permit's validity by visiting your local authority's office or using the online confirmation service. You can also check your building permit's validity online at the Croatian Directorate General of Construction (DDD) website.
You can find more information about construction in Croatia by visiting the following websites: Ministry of Construction, Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, or the Croatian Construction Industry Association (HZMO). You can also visit the Croatian Chamber of Economy (HZMO) website.
Using the Croatian Chamber of Economy (HZMO) website, you can import building materials from other countries. You can also find information about importing building materials at the Croatian Directorate General of Construction (DDD) website.
If you want to build something not allowed by the spatial plan, you should contact a local authority's office and ask for permission. However, if the local authority decides that you have to remove the building, they will issue you a demolition order. A demolition order requires you to remove the building within two weeks from the issuance date and return all materials and equipment. If you do not complete this removal within six months from the date of issuing the demolition order, your construction work will be stopped, and it may result in a demolition order from local authorities. You will also need to pay a fine each day that work has been stopped or equipment has not been returned. The law does not allow for any compensation for material or equipment losses caused by a demolition order.
You should contact the Croatian Water Authority if you are building near a water source.
If your construction site is located on a listed building , you will have to contact the Croatian Institute for Cultural Heritage Preservation (Hrvatski Arheološki Institut - HAZU) . If the listed building is protected by law, such as a national monument or a protected cultural heritage site, you will have to get permission from the Ministry of Culture.
If you are building near a national park or a biosphere reserve, you should contact the Croatian National Park Authority. You should contact the Biosphere Reserve Authority if you are building near a biosphere reserve.
If your construction site is located in an area without planning permission, such as in a forest or on private land, you must apply for planning permission from the local authority.
If you are building near the Croatian coast, you should contact the Croatian Hydrographic and Maritime Administration (Hrvatski hidrografski i morski arhiv - HHM).
If you are building near a river or lake, you should contact the Croatian Ministry of Nature, Environment, and Science (Ministarstvo zaštite okoliša i geografije - MZOŠG). Suppose your construction site is located within 60 meters of the shoreline of a river or lake. In that case, you will have to contact the Croatian Hydrographic and Maritime Administration (Hrvatski hidrografski i morski arhiv - HHM).
If the investor changes, you must contact the Croatian Ministry of Economy (Ministarstvo gospodarstva - MGB). A new investor within 15 days must change a building permit. The construction cannot continue without the investor and/or investing company being changed. These changes must be made. They include:
• A building permit or the previous owner's consent is required to transfer ownership.
• An investor may be defined by law or a special condition as someone who can't be an investor.
If the construction site is moved, the construction must be stopped. The construction cannot continue without the new location conditions. These include:
• A building permit or the previous owner's consent is required to transfer ownership.
• An investor may be defined by law or a special condition as someone who can't be an investor.
If there are any changes in access to a construction site , you will have to contact the Croatian Ministry of Environment, Nature and Science (Ministarstvo zaštite okoliša i geografije - MZOŠG) .
If there are any building construction changes, you will have to contact the Croatian Ministry of Environment, Nature, and Science (Ministarstvo zaštite okoliša i geografije - MZOŠG).
• A construction is not permitted if it:
• Is dangerous to the health of people and/or animals, is dangerous for the natural environment, or if it is damaging to the building's integrity.
• If you have a permit for construction that has expired, you have to apply for a new permit.
If there are any changes in environmental protection requirements, you will have to contact the Croatian Ministry of Environment, Nature, and Science (Ministarstvo zaštite okoliša i geografije - MZOŠG).
You should contact the Croatian Ministry of Economy (Ministarstvo gospodarstva - MGB). A local authority must obtain a building permit if you are constructing on private property.
• If you are constructing on private property, you will have to contact the Croatian Ministry of Environment, Nature, and Science (Ministarstvo zaštite okoliša i geografije - MZOŠG).
• You need a building permit for construction if:
• The construction is dangerous to the health of people and/or animals, is dangerous to the natural environment, or if it is damaging to the building's integrity.
• A building permit must be obtained from a local authority if you are constructing on private property.
You should contact the Croatian Ministry of Environment, Nature, and Science (Ministarstvo zaštite okoliša i geografije - MZOŠG) for construction in protected areas.
•A building permit must be obtained from a local authority if you are constructing on private property.
•The construction is dangerous to the health of people and/or animals, is dangerous to the natural environment, or if it is damaging to the building's integrity.
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