Croatia to crack down on neglected private land as wildfire risk rises

ZAGREB, 15 July 2026 – Croatia’s authorities are preparing tougher action against owners of neglected private land as firefighters face increasing challenges during what is shaping up to be one of the country’s most demanding wildfire seasons, Morski.hr reports.

Speaking before Parliament’s Committee on Internal Affairs and National Security, Chief Fire Commander Slavko Tucaković said the state could be forced to introduce stricter measures to ensure private landowners maintain their properties, warning that neglected land is putting lives and property at risk.

The warning comes as Croatia experiences a rise in wildfires linked to dry thunderstorms, a phenomenon that has become increasingly problematic, particularly along the Adriatic coast.

According to Tucaković, the number of fires in coastal areas has risen by around 40% compared with the same period last year.

He highlighted the recent wildfire on the island of Korčula, where around 900 hectares burned. Firefighters were forced to spend hours making their way through overgrown private land to reach the fire because there were no accessible fire roads for emergency vehicles.

Many privately owned forests and plots have become heavily overgrown despite legal obligations requiring owners to maintain them. Without clear access routes, firefighting vehicles are unable to reach affected areas quickly, allowing fires to spread more rapidly.

The situation has improved on state-owned land after Croatian Forests expanded its network of forest access roads, making firefighting operations more efficient. Authorities now want private landowners to meet similar standards.

The urgency is underlined by official figures showing the total area burned by mid-June had increased by 78.5% compared with the same period last year, reaching around 7,500 hectares.

Croatian law already requires owners to maintain agricultural land and prevent it from becoming overgrown. Those who fail to do so can face financial penalties, with fines ranging from hundreds of euros for individuals to several thousand euros for businesses, Morski.hr writes.

If landowners cannot be located or repeatedly fail to maintain their land, the state may place the property into temporary lease for up to ten years so it can be properly managed.

In addition to agricultural legislation, Croatia’s fire protection laws and local municipal regulations may also apply. Owners whose neglected land becomes the source of, or significantly contributes to, a wildfire can face both civil liability for damages and potential criminal responsibility.

Authorities say improving access to private land and ensuring owners meet their legal obligations will be an important part of Croatia’s efforts to reduce wildfire risks during increasingly challenging fire seasons.