Croatia to update more than 132,000 land parcels

Croatia moves ahead with €401 million land registry modernisation programme

Croatia has unveiled a new annual programme to modernise its cadastral and land registry records, with plans to update more than 132,000 land parcels covering over 14,400 hectares by the end of 2027.

The proposal was presented on Wednesday by the State Geodetic Administration (DGU) as part of the country’s wider 2021–2030 cadastral survey programme, which has a total value of €401 million.

The long-term initiative aims to renew cadastral and land registry records for around 600,000 hectares of land and property within Croatia’s construction areas by the end of the decade.

According to DGU Director General Antonio Šustić, the programme is designed not only to update property records but also to provide a stronger foundation for urban development, speed up investment projects, improve legal certainty for property owners and support more efficient spatial planning and property management, he told HRT.

The latest annual programme covers 57 local government units across all Croatian counties except Vukovar-Srijem County. Survey work will be carried out in 69 cadastral municipalities and parts of municipalities, encompassing 132,599 cadastral parcels across 14,441 hectares.

Funding of €32.1 million has been allocated through the state budget and budget projections covering the 2026–2028 period.

The proposal will now enter a public consultation process before being submitted for government approval, which is expected by the end of July. Once adopted, the DGU will begin contracting surveying companies, organising training, signing agreements with local authorities and launching field surveys.

Since the nationwide programme began in 2021, activities have already started in 106 local government units. Surveys have covered 188 cadastral municipalities, more than 500,000 land parcels and approximately 90,000 hectares.

Investment in the programme to date totals €81.3 million, excluding VAT.

The DGU also highlighted the importance of public participation, noting that more than 80% of invited property owners and managers have taken part in marking the boundaries of their land. In some areas, participation has exceeded the number of permanent residents.

Officials say continued investment in modern land records is essential for strengthening legal certainty, improving spatial planning, supporting sustainable development and creating a more efficient framework for future public and private investment.