How to obtain a construction permit in Romania

What is a construction permit and how can I obtain one in Romania?

Although it is present under the Romanian legislation as “construction permit“, in reality it represents a document issued by the local public administration based on which it is ensured the compliance with the measures established by law in terms of location, design, construction and operation performance. More specifically, a building permit not only offers the permission to build something new, but also to strengthen or repair an existing work.

Law no. 169/2026 on the Code of Spatial Planning, Urbanism and Construction, in force since 25 August 2026 (which repealed Law no. 50/1991), represents the legislative framework in this area and our lawyers in Romania can provide specific details about this law.

The execution of construction works is permitted only on the basis of a building or demolishing permit. This authorization may be issued at the request of the holder of the title of ownership of a property, land and / or buildings, or another act which confers the right for the construction or demolition.

The building permit is issued for the implementation of construction works, reconstruction, consolidation, modification, extension, change of destination or rehabilitation of buildings of any kind, as well as the related facilities, except for certain works which do not alter the structure of resistance, baseline characteristics of the buildings or their architectural appearance, works that do not require a building permit.

Building permits are issued by the presidents of county councils, the general mayor of Bucharest or mayors. Those who need assistance in communicating with these authorities and making the needed submissions can reach out to our Romanian lawyers.

The investor has the obligation to notify the issuing authority and the Construction Inspectorate on what concerns the date set for the beginning of the authorized work.

The building permit is valid for 3 years from the issue date, during which the applicant has the right to start the work. In this case, the validity of the authorization extends throughout the execution of the work under the authorization in accordance with the technical project.

If the work is not started or if it is not completed within the deadlines, the validity of the authorization will be lost and a new building permit issuance will be required. The new permit is requested on the basis of a valid urbanism certificate; the former exemption from a new urbanism certificate under Law no. 50/1991 no longer applies.

However, if it can be justified that the construction work can not be started, or may not be fully executed the deadline, the investor may apply to the issuing authority for an extension of the execution period at least 15 working days before expiry. The extension is granted only once and for a period not exceeding 12 months. If such an extension is required, please get in touch with our attorneys in Romania.

Investors who need more information on how to commence construction or renovation activities can reach out to us for more details and legal assistance. What’s more, our litigation lawyers can provide needed advice in case of legal complaints.

What documents do I need to obtain a construction permit in Romania?

The building permit is issued within 30 calendar days from the submission of the complete documentation to the competent authorities, documentation which includes, among others, the following listed by our lawyers in Romania:

• the urbanism certificate;
• The urbanism certificate is an act of information of the applicant, by the competent authorities, regarding the elements relating to the legal, economic and technical regimes of existing buildings and lands at the date of the request and by the means of which it is determined which planning requirements are to be met depending on the specifics of the site, as well as the list of legal permits and approvals required for authorization.
• the cadastral plan extract and the land book extract, not older than 30 days, and, where applicable, the proof of title of land and / or buildings;
• the project for the authorization of construction works;
• The project for the authorization of construction works is developed in accordance with the framework content found in Annex no. 2 to Law no. 169/2026 (Annex no. 3 for single-family households in rural areas); after the permit is issued, it is detailed in the technical execution project.
• necessary legal permits and approvals, set out by the urbanism certificate;
• proof of payment of legal fees.

Please keep in mind that the permit will not be issued if the submission lacks any of the needed documents. This is why it is advisable to reach out to one of the experts at our law firm in Romania for more information.

Obtaining a construction permit in Romania requires rigorous documentation and compliance with certain conditions regarding the types of construction or buildings. For more information on this matter, as well as for professional legal advice regarding the procurance of construction permits from the competent licensing authorities under the Romanian legislation on the subject, please contact one of the Romanian lawyers at Darie, Manea & associates law firm.