Cyprus Planning Amnesty Closes with 2,841 Applications
Cyprus's planning amnesty scheme closed on 23 June 2025 after receiving 2,841 applications to legalise minor planning deviations, most of them in homes. The applications are now being reviewed, a step towards final approval and title deeds for the properties concerned.
By RealDeal team · 2 min read · Published 9 Jul 2025 · Updated 8 Oct 2026
The Ministry of the Interior's planning amnesty scheme closed on 23 June 2025 with 2,841 applications to legalise minor planning deviations. The scheme opened on 23 September 2024 for six months and was extended by three months in March because of rising demand. Its aim is to help owners obtain the certificate of final approval and title deeds for properties held back by small breaches of their permits.
What the scheme covered
The scheme allowed owners to legalise minor deviations, such as exceeding the permitted building coefficient, covered verandas or pergolas, or reduced distances from boundaries. It applied to developments that already had a planning and/or building permit, provided the unauthorised works were completed before 13 September 2024. Owners paid a compensatory fee to the Special Affordable Housing Fund of the Cyprus Land Development Corporation (KOAG), and applications were filed through the Ippodamos system.
Who applied
About 88% of applications (2,495) concerned homes, followed by commercial buildings (155, or 5.5%), offices (2%), entertainment venues (1.9%) and industrial buildings (1.5%).
| District | Applications | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Nicosia | 1,049 | 37% |
| Limassol | 770 | 27% |
| Paphos | 519 | 18.3% |
| Larnaca | 328 | 11.5% |
| Famagusta | 175 | 6.2% |
| Total | 2,841 | 100% |
Source: Ministry of the Interior via FastForward.
What happens next
The applications are being reviewed by the District Local Government Organisations (EOAs), which will guide applicants through to final approval and the issue of title deeds.
What this means for owners and buyers
- Owners who applied should follow up with their EOA: legalisation is a step towards final approval and title deeds, not the end of the process.
- Owners who did not apply and have unauthorised works may still face obstacles to obtaining a title deed.
- Buyers should ask whether a property has unauthorised works, and whether it was included in the amnesty, before signing, especially for homes without a separate title deed.
This article is for information only and is not tax or legal advice.