The time required to obtain the necessary permits for building a house in Cyprus is now reduced to a total of 40 working days—20 days for the urban planning permit and 20 days for the building permit—the Minister of Interior, Constantinos Ioannou, announced. He further stated that by March, the new permit issuance process will extend to medium-risk developments.

According to Ioannou, this licensing reform aims to create a more flexible and efficient permit issuance framework, streamlining procedures for faster and more effective service to citizens. "At the same time, this reform strengthens on-site inspections and prevents urban planning violations, which in some cases have led to complications that are difficult to reverse. Additionally, it reduces the backlog of pending cases within District Self-Government Organizations, allowing them to focus on enhancing inspections," he explained.

Building permit applications are submitted electronically through the "IPPODAMOS" system, under a relevant decree, to DSOs as the responsible licensing authorities. Applicants must complete a special checklist form, in which the private consultant assumes responsibility for the application’s accuracy and completeness. Once submitted, DSOs review and either approve or reject applications, issuing permits within 20 working days.

>>Challenges in "Ippodamos" Licensing System Persist<<

"If a permit is neither issued nor rejected within the 20-day timeframe, it is automatically approved and issued by the system on the 21st day," Ioannou clarified.

The new automatic procedure, effective today, finalizes the licensing reform for single-family homes and duplexes, which account for approximately 30% of applications. "Since last October, when the fast-track urban planning permit process was introduced, 332 applications have been submitted, with 242 processed and 223 approved. Another 26 were rejected for various reasons, while 83 are still within the 20-day processing period," he noted.

The next phase of the licensing reform will extend the new process to medium-risk developments, including up to 12 consecutive housing units or four-story apartment buildings with a maximum of 20 apartments and one underground level. The required permits for these projects will be issued within 80 working days. "This new process will be implemented in March," the Minister confirmed.

Ioannou emphasized that the reform introduces substantial changes in how permits are reviewed and issued, including the adoption of self-auditing principles and an enhanced role for private consultants. It also strengthens on-site inspections, which will now take place at three key construction stages throughout the building process. "These inspections ensure continuous monitoring of critical development points and allow timely intervention to halt construction if permit conditions are violated."

The licensing reform will also introduce the institution of Building Inspectors, who will be responsible for on-site inspections and compliance checks. Ioannou mentioned that, in collaboration with the Cyprus Scientific and Technical Chamber (ETEK), regulations defining the inspectors' role and responsibilities are currently being drafted.

"During the transition period before these regulations are finalized and enacted, ETEK will compile a temporary list of qualified members to undertake these responsibilities. The goal is to have this list ready by the launch of the second phase of the reform in March," he concluded.