Do you own a building that was constructed without proper permits and wish to legalize it? Law Firm Haracic + Partners and our expert legal team can provide you with guidance and assistance throughout the legalization process.
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, particularly in Sarajevo Canton, there are numerous buildings that have not been registered in land registries due to the lack of construction permits, use permits, and other required approvals. However, there are legal procedures available to regulate such situations.
This matter is governed by the provisions of the Law on Spatial Planning of Sarajevo Canton (“Official Gazette of Sarajevo Canton”, No. 24/2017 and 1/2018), as well as the Decision on the Legalization of Buildings Constructed Without Building Permits and Temporary Structures (“Official Gazette of Sarajevo Canton”, No. 06/06, 18/07, 18/08). The required permits and approvals are issued by the competent municipality in which the property is located.
The first step in the legalization process is submitting an application for the issuance of a subsequent urban planning consent.
Once the urban planning consent is obtained, the next steps include obtaining a retroactive building permit and a use permit.
To acquire these permits, it is necessary for an authorized designer—a licensed architectural or civil engineering firm or professional—to prepare an “as-built” project documentation.
Legalization involves the payment of various administrative fees to the relevant authorities, depending especially on the purpose and classification of the land (e.g. construction land or agricultural land to be converted into construction land).
