ANNOUNCEMENT

For immediate publication
30 December 2024


Update on the new Decree of the Ministry of Interior regarding the Procedure for examining Pending Applications submitted before 01/07/2024 for the issuance of a building permit for residential developments of up to two residential units

The District Local Government Organization of Larnaka (DLGOL), implementing the Decree “On the Regulation of Roads and Buildings (Procedure for Examining a Pending Application for the Issuance of a Permit for Residential Developments up to Two Residential Units)” of 2024 (Regulatory Administrative Act 411/2024), issued by the Ministry of Interior and in force as of 9 December 2024, clarifies the following for the information of the public and designers:

The purpose of the measure is to reduce the waiting time for the issuance of building permits for pending applications and to facilitate citizens in commencing construction of their residence more quickly.

The measure forms part of the Ministry of Interior’s broader plan to accelerate and simplify the licensing system, particularly regarding the evaluation of specific building/division permit applications and development control procedures.

The Decree applies exclusively to applications/developments that meet ALL of the following conditions:

  • Applications submitted before 01/07/2024 to former Building Authorities (in paper or electronic form) concerning low-risk residential developments of up to two units, including additions/modifications and related division permits, provided the units can operate independently.
  • Residential developments must be proposed on a registered plot listed in the Certificate of Registration of Immovable Property or on a “plot under creation”, meaning a plot with an approved subdivision permit, completed curbs and roads at final paving stage.
  • A planning permit must have been secured in advance under the Town and Country Planning Law.
  • No discretionary authority must be requested from the Competent Authority under the relevant 2019 Decree (Regulatory Administrative Act 309/2019).

2. Requirements for implementation:

Submission of a fully completed “Designer’s Declaration” Form (Annex I), together with all required supporting documents and calculation of applicable fees (Annex II). Previously submitted plans/documents do not need to be resubmitted.

Submission of a valid Certificate of Professional Liability Insurance from the Cyprus Scientific and Technical Chamber (ETEK) is mandatory.

The Form must clearly include:

– File number of the building permit application (paper or IPPODAMOS system)

– File number of the division permit application (where applicable)

Correct file references are essential to ensure processing within the Decree’s timeframe of two (2) working days.

3. Application procedure:

  • The “Designer’s Declaration” Form must be submitted via email to:
    ebp@eoal.org.cy
  • If complete, the building permit may be issued within 48 working hours.
  • Incomplete submissions will be automatically rejected without notification and examined under the standard procedure.

Applications will be rejected immediately if:

  • The application does not fall within the scope of the Decree
  • The Designer’s Declaration is incomplete
  • No division permit application was submitted before 01/07/2024
  • No ETEK Professional Liability Insurance certificate is provided

The Designer’s Declaration must include the total required fees, any amounts already paid, and proof of payment. Any additional fees must be settled within 2 working days, otherwise the application will be rejected automatically.

DLGOL will only conduct a completeness check (no technical review) and will issue a “Certificate of Automatic Permit Issuance” within 2 working days, assigning responsibility to the designer.

4. If an application is already at an advanced stage of examination, it will proceed under the standard process.

5. Where all conditions are met, the certificate will be issued and the permit will follow in printed form.

6. DLGOL will conduct full checks on 15% of applications. If serious errors are found, the permit becomes invalid.

7. If an application is rejected under this procedure, it cannot be resubmitted under the same Decree.

8. The public and designers are urged to strictly follow these guidelines to ensure smooth implementation of the procedure.

Thank you in advance for your understanding and cooperation.