There is significant public interest in the Urban Planning Amnesty Scheme, stated Elikkos Ilia, the Director General of the Ministry of Interior. He added that “hundreds of inquiries have been received from consultants to date, with clarifications provided by officials from the Department of Urban Planning and Housing.

Regarding the number of applications, Mr. Ilia reported that so far, 10 applications have been submitted to the Nicosia District Authority, 11 to Limassol, 6 to Larnaca, and 4 to Paphos. He noted, however, that “a large number of applications are expected to be submitted within the next five months, before the March 23, 2025, deadline.”

The Director General reminded that the Urban Planning Amnesty Scheme, which was implemented on September 13, 2024, allows for unauthorized expansions in existing residential, commercial, office, and industrial developments, as well as recreational facilities, to apply for Certification of Approval and Title Deeds.

Applications are submitted exclusively via the IPODAMOS computerized system to the five relevant Urban Planning Authorities (District Authorities of Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca, Paphos, and Famagusta). As of July 1, 2024, all applications have been processed digitally following the Local Government reform.

“If the application is approved by the Planning Authority, the applicant will be required to pay the necessary fee, which compensates for the approval of the irregularity. This fee is deposited into a Special Fund of the Cyprus Land Development Corporation for Affordable Housing, before the issuance of the planning permit,” he explained.

Mr. Ilia noted that consultants and the public can find information about the Scheme and the applicable cases on the Department of Urban Planning and Housing’s website at https://www.moi.gov.cy/moi/tph/tph.nsf/All/787A4F669605DD08C2258B9B00253C14?OpenDocument.

Additionally, Mr. Ilia told CNA that the Ministry of Interior and the Department of Urban Planning and Housing, in collaboration with the Technical Chamber of Cyprus (ETEK), organized an online seminar on October 4, 2024, for consultants and the public. Attended by 1,000 participants, the seminar addressed over 200 questions, with responses also posted on the Department’s website, along with 30 other common inquiries.

Finally, Mr. Ilia urged property owners interested in benefiting from the Urban Planning Amnesty Scheme “to consult their advisors, who should also consider covering any irregularities by submitting a regular application for additions/modifications.