Croatia proposes new law to speed up home building and tackle illegal construction

ZAGREB, 5 September 2025 (Hina) – Croatia’s Ministry of Physical Planning, Construction and State Assets has launched a public consultation on a new Construction Act which aims to make building processes faster, simpler and more transparent, while also curbing illegal construction.

The proposed legislation introduces a number of changes designed to support faster construction of family homes, simplify procedures for different types of buildings, and strengthen oversight to ensure safer, higher-quality development.

Simplified procedures for smaller buildings

Under the draft law, separate procedures will apply to smaller, less complex buildings – such as family homes – and to larger residential blocks. For smaller projects, only a conceptual design will need to be submitted instead of a full main design, reducing paperwork and speeding up approvals.

Supervision for these projects will focus solely on structural safety, while requirements such as detailed execution plans and building maintenance plans will be reduced. The number of parties involved in the approval process will also be cut, further streamlining the procedure.

Stricter checks to combat illegal construction

To address unlawful building, the Act introduces an on-site inspection before a permit is issued. If construction has started without approval, the investor will face a special fee and the building inspectorate will be notified.

New rules for permits and conditions

One of the key reforms is that designers will obtain special conditions and connection requirements directly via the eDozvola electronic system, without involving construction authorities. This change addresses previous delays where excessive documentation was often requested by multiple public bodies.

Buildings of national importance

The draft law also defines certain projects – such as those for the Croatian Parliament, Government institutions, education, culture, science, healthcare and social welfare – as being of national interest.

Ongoing expert support and building maintenance plans

The Act introduces a new obligation for project designers to provide expert support to investors throughout the entire construction process until the use permit is granted.
For the first time, a Building Maintenance Plan will be mandatory and must be submitted with applications for use permits. This plan will cover both the building and its installed equipment, ensuring better long-term upkeep.

Digitalisation and BIM technology

The Ministry is also pushing digitalisation in construction by introducing the Building Information Modelling (BIM) system. BIM enables all stakeholders – designers, investors and contractors – to collaborate through a smart 3D model that integrates planning, design, construction, management and maintenance.
Its introduction will be gradual, with full application expected from 1 January 2031 and 1 January 2035, alongside upgrades to the eDozvola platform.

Public consultation

The draft Construction Act will remain in public consultation until 4 October 2025. According to the Ministry, the reforms are intended to encourage investment, make construction more cost-effective, improve housing availability and ensure safer, higher-quality building practices across Croatia.