Greek building restrictions


	Building regulations in Greece
Building Costs Building costs can vary and can be more than you might expect. You will have to account for variables such as size, materials used and location. A typical example of a newly built villa would be around €125,000 for a 2 bed villa plus the price of the land. A useful costing guide for a fully fitted villa is €1500 m2 inclusive of all licenses and IKA (national insurance) of the building workers. Although this assumes a very basic build and remember that the second fix electrics and plumbing should be added to this. Under Greek law it is the owner of the plot who is legally responsible for insurance and the building licenses. Building permits are approximately 4% of the cost of the building and are included in the architects quote. Please note that some builders and architects may give a quote that is not inclusive. On Zakynthos we can certainly advise you on design and costings. Planning permission for a new build Inside villages and towns planning permission is likely to be granted for almost any plot, although there can be laws specific to a certain area. Planning permission can be granted for building on land of 2000 m2 or less if the plot is situated within the town-planning zone, or fronts a municipal road. For plots outside of the zone, planning permission can be granted if the land is a minimum of 4,000 m2 (at the moment but may rise to 6,000m2) and there are no forestry or archaeological restrictions.		Building in the countryside Usually 4000 m2 is required for planning permission outside of village boundaries. The total m2 that you are allowed to build is set by individual planning authorities and follows a sliding scale. For example on the minimum plot size of 4000 m2 you would be allowed to build approximately 220 m2, this then increases with the size of the plot. However this can sometimes be adjusted and is dependant on local rules and negotiation. Generally a building has to be 15 metres away from the plot boundaries unless it fronts a municipal road. The exception to the 4000 m2 rule is if a plot of land fronts a municipal road. If this is the case, then only 2000 m2 is required to satisfy the planning regulations. These regulations are designed to stop the spread of concrete boxes across the countryside. Inside the village If you're building a new property the plot has to be the minimum size and this is normally around 500 -1000 m2. The total build area is normally around 70-80% of the plot size on 2 floors and is usually up to a maximum of around 400 m2. This generally has to be 2.5 metres from plot boundaries. However this can be expanded depending upon negotiation and history of the plot. Rebuilding an old property Planning permission is not required if the property is basically habitable, unless there were going to be significant extensions, again extensions would be allowed up to 70-80% of the plot size usually to a maximum of 400 m2. Renovating an old stone house or ruin can be less expensive than building a new property and is very often found in idyllic locations. For the cost of renovating a rule of thumb guide is 600-700 € per square metre. Unless of course you are undertaking much of the work yourself...

Building regulations in Greece

Building Costs

Building costs can vary and can be more than you might expect. You will have to account for variables such as size, materials used and location. A typical example of a newly built villa would be around €125,000 for a 2 bed villa plus the price of the land. A useful costing guide for a fully fitted villa is €1500 m2 inclusive of all licenses and IKA (national insurance) of the building workers. Although this assumes a very basic build and remember that the second fix electrics and plumbing should be added to this.

Under Greek law it is the owner of the plot who is legally responsible for insurance and the building licenses. Building permits are approximately 4% of the cost of the building and are included in the architects quote. Please note that some builders and architects may give a quote that is not inclusive.

On Zakynthos we can certainly advise you on design and costings.

Planning permission for a new build

Inside villages and towns planning permission is likely to be granted for almost any plot, although there can be laws specific to a certain area. Planning permission can be granted for building on land of 2000 m2 or less if the plot is situated within the town-planning zone, or fronts a municipal road. For plots outside of the zone, planning permission can be granted if the land is a minimum of 4,000 m2 (at the moment but may rise to 6,000m2) and there are no forestry or archaeological restrictions.

Building in the countryside

Usually 4000 m2 is required for planning permission outside of village boundaries. The total m2 that you are allowed to build is set by individual planning authorities and follows a sliding scale. For example on the minimum plot size of 4000 m2 you would be allowed to build approximately 220 m2, this then increases with the size of the plot. However this can sometimes be adjusted and is dependant on local rules and negotiation.

Generally a building has to be 15 metres away from the plot boundaries unless it fronts a municipal road. The exception to the 4000 m2 rule is if a plot of land fronts a municipal road. If this is the case, then only 2000 m2 is required to satisfy the planning regulations. These regulations are designed to stop the spread of concrete boxes across the countryside.

Inside the village

If you're building a new property the plot has to be the minimum size and this is normally around 500 -1000 m2. The total build area is normally around 70-80% of the plot size on 2 floors and is usually up to a maximum of around 400 m2. This generally has to be 2.5 metres from plot boundaries. However this can be expanded depending upon negotiation and history of the plot.

Rebuilding an old property

Planning permission is not required if the property is basically habitable, unless there were going to be significant extensions, again extensions would be allowed up to 70-80% of the plot size usually to a maximum of 400 m2. Renovating an old stone house or ruin can be less expensive than building a new property and is very often found in idyllic locations. For the cost of renovating a rule of thumb guide is 600-700 € per square metre. Unless of course you are undertaking much of the work yourself...