Cyprus is introducing reforms to speed up the process of obtaining building and planning permits. Constantinos Ioannou said that small construction projects will now require only 40 working days to obtain permits. The initiative is part of a wider programme to modernise the construction industry and tackle delays in housing projects.
Major changes in the permitting process
The reform aims to improve the permit application system for low-risk developments classified as “Category A”. These projects include the construction of residential buildings with up to two residential units . The permit process now looks like this:
- 20 working days to obtain planning certificates .
- Another 20 working days to obtain a building permit.
Applications must comply with a new checklist system, shifting the responsibility for ensuring applications meet all legal requirements to private designers . Constantinos Ioannou noted that a fast-track procedure for planning and creating applications has been introduced , giving private designers the opportunity to check their applications themselves.
If the authorities are unable to process the application within the specified time frame, the permit will be issued automatically, ensuring efficiency and minimising delays.
On-site inspections and real-time compliance
The reforms also introduce real-time compliance checks , which will be carried out by auditors and building control inspectors at three stages of construction. This means a shift from traditional paper-based checks to on-site inspections, which helps to quickly identify and correct violations.
Ippodamos digital platform , launched in October 2023, has already made the planning application process much easier. 147 applications have been submitted for Category A projects, of which 63 have been approved, 13 have been rejected and 71 are pending. Building permits will be issued under the same scheme from January 2025, when the system upgrade is complete.
By March 2025, the fast-track system will be extended to Category B projects, which include:
- Construction of facilities with up to 12 residential units.
- Apartment buildings consisting of a maximum of 20 apartments, four floors and one basement.
For such projects, permitting will take 80 working days, with stricter compliance checks at all stages.
Solving the problem with accumulated requests
currently a backlog of 5,000 building permits in Cyprus . Minister Ioannou noted that this issue can be resolved in a short time if designers submit the necessary documents. Importantly, designers are now fully responsible for the correctness of the submitted applications. Any violations will be identified during inspections, which will help improve compliance with standards and minimize the number of past violations .
The combined approach, which combines process automation with accurate on-site checks, aims to increase efficiency in the construction industry. This will allow for faster project launches while maintaining high quality and compliance. Minister Ioannou stressed that these actions will reduce the time required to obtain construction permits to just 40 working days, which will help to address the shortage of residential properties and modernise the construction industry in Cyprus.