New Rules for Property Legalization in Croatia: What Has Changed and How to Proceed

New rules for property legalization: what has changed and what remains the same

The Government of the Republic of Croatia has adopted amendments to the Law on the Legalization of Illegally Constructed Buildings, clearly defining how the legalization process will continue.

Although the term “new legalization” is often used, it is important to clarify from the start:
this is not a new legalization round, but an adjustment of existing rules to better reflect real-life situations.

The most important change

The key change relates to the deadline for submitting legalization applications.

The former deadline, which was set for 30 June 2018, has now been removed from the law.
This means there is no longer a time limit for submitting an application.

An application can now be submitted at any time, under one essential condition – the building must have been constructed before 21 June 2011 and its existence must be provable, most commonly through official aerial photographs from that period.

In simple terms:

• there is no new deadline

• there is no “last chance”

• there is no time pressure

What remains the same (and this is important)

The core rules of legalization have not changed.

This means:

• only buildings constructed before 21 June 2011 can be legalized

• legalization is possible only if it can be proven that the building existed before that date, usually through official aerial imagery

• buildings constructed after that date cannot be legalized

In other words, 2011 remains the key and final reference point.
Everything else in the procedure largely remains unchanged.

Why removing the deadline is a good thing

Removing the deadline gives people time and flexibility.

Many property owners were previously unable to start the legalization process due to financial reasons, unresolved ownership issues, inheritance procedures, family circumstances, or incomplete documentation.
Now, they can proceed when they are truly ready, without the fear that they are permanently too late.

The rules are clear, the construction date is defined, but time is no longer the obstacle.

What is required today for legalization

Even without a deadline, legalization still requires proper preparation, including:

• a geodetic survey of the existing building

• a record of the as-built condition

• a structural stability statement

• proof that the building existed before 21 June 2011

• submission of the application through the official digital system

In short – there are no shortcuts, but there is now enough time to do everything correctly.

Our approach and how we can help

These changes bring more realism into practice.
They do not erase past issues, but they allow older situations to finally be resolved in a lawful and structured way.

We are available for all questions related to property legalization.
With us, you can:

• check whether your property is eligible for legalization

• find out which documentation is required

• receive an honest assessment of whether the procedure makes sense

If needed, we handle the entire process for you – from collecting documentation, starting the procedure, to completing it, so you don’t have to worry about the details.

We know what we are doing, and that is the starting point for successfully completing such a process.
Everyone has their own expertise – this is one of ours.

For more information, feel free to contact us via our  Kontakt or by phone 00385/992146231.
We are here to make the process easier for you.