🏠 I want to build a house
Practical Guide to the Building Permit in Romania 2026 – Everything You Need to Know
This is a translation. The Romanian version of the article is the reference text.
⚠️ These guides apply only to buildings in Romania. The laws, standards, deadlines, fees and values quoted (Law 169/2026, P 118, CR 1-1-3, the O.A.R. guides) are Romanian; in your own country other rules apply.
ℹ️ Legislative update — 29 August 2026
Since 25 August 2026, Law no. 50/1991, cited in this article, has been repealed and replaced by Law no. 169/2026 — the Code of Spatial Planning, Urbanism and Construction. The general 30-day deadline for the building permit stays the same, but there are new elements: an emergency procedure (7 working days), the National One-Stop Shop and 5 distinct types of urban planning certificate, instead of the single one described below. Updated details: the building permit under the new Code and the urban planning certificate — 5 new types.
Do you want to build your dream home but feel lost in paperwork, deadlines and institutions? You are not alone. The building permit seems complicated — but with the right steps, the process becomes clear and predictable.
1. What is the building permit?
The building permit (autorizație de construire) is the official document without which you cannot legally start any construction work. Issued by the town hall, it confirms that your project complies with all the urban planning and technical regulations in force.
⚠️ Legal note
Building without a permit is punished with a fine and can lead to the demolition of the work at the owner's expense — a system of sanctions now taken over by Law no. 169/2026, which repealed the old Law 50/1991. Fines for works without a permit range from 50,000 to 1,000,000 lei — details in the article on regularisation and fines.
2. What documents do you need?
The building permit application file usually contains:
- The standard application form, completed and signed
- A copy of the property deed (registered in the land register)
- A valid urban planning certificate
- A complete technical design (architecture, structure, building services)
- The DTAC — the technical documentation for the building permit
- The approvals and agreements required by the urban planning certificate
- The design check reports
- Proof of payment of the fees
| Issuing deadline | 30 calendar days |
| Validity | 24 months from issue |
| Permit fee | 1% of the value of the works |
| Possible extension | +12 months, once only |
3. The procedure step by step
1. Getting the urban planning certificate
The first step is to request the urban planning certificate (CU) from the town hall where the land is located. The CU tells you the legal status of the land, the urban planning indicators (plot coverage POT, floor area ratio CUT) and the list of approvals needed.
2. Preparing the technical design
The design must be prepared by licensed professionals: an architect with signing rights for the architecture and a checked structural engineer for the structure. At Dauron Trust we cover all disciplines in-house.
3. Getting the approvals
Depending on the location, you will need approvals from: the electricity network, gas, water and sewerage, the fire service (ISU), environment, historic monuments (if applicable), etc.
4. Filing the application
The complete file is submitted to the town hall's planning department. The legal deadline for a reply is 30 calendar days.
4. Indicative timelines and costs
The total time from decision to permit is on average 3–6 months, depending on the complexity of the project and the speed of the institutions.
- Urban planning certificate: 5–30 days
- Technical design + DTAC: 2–6 weeks
- Approvals: 2–8 weeks
- Town hall decision on the file: 30 days by law
5. Common mistakes to avoid
⚠️ 🚫 Watch out
The most common reasons for rejecting a file: incomplete documentation, expired approvals and designs not signed by licensed checkers.
- Filing an incomplete application without checking it first
- Using an expired urban planning certificate
- A technical design without the check reports
- Not complying with the urban planning indicators (plot coverage/floor area ratio exceeded)
- Approvals obtained for a different design stage
6. Conclusion
With a complete design team, correct documentation and realistic planning, the building permit becomes a natural step, not an obstacle.
Informational article, not legal advice. Always check your specific situation with the local town hall and a specialist.
The Dauron Trust team handles the whole permit process.
From the urban planning certificate to final acceptance — we guide you at every step.
Contact us