Planning permit
Permission under the Town and Country Planning Law (Law 90/1972) to develop land: to build, extend, change a use or divide a plot. It is needed before the building permit.
Updated 12 Oct 2026How it works
A planning permit (Πολεοδομική Άδεια) is required before any development starts, under the Town and Country Planning Law of 1972 (Law 90/1972). Development includes new buildings, extensions, changes of use and the division of land.
The planning authority assesses the application against the development plan for the area (a Local Plan, an Area Scheme or, in villages and the countryside, the Policy Statement), including the plot's zone, building density, coverage ratio, number of floors and height.
Since 1 July 2024, under a decree assigning planning powers, the five District Local Government Organisations (EOA) act as planning authorities for most applications. The Department of Town Planning and Housing of the Ministry of the Interior remains the authority for some categories, such as listed buildings.
Applications are filed online through the IPPODAMOS system. If the authority has not decided within three months, it may ask the applicant to agree to an extension. A planning permit is valid for three years from its issue, unless it states another period. Since October 2024, low-risk housing on building plots can use a fast-track route, with a planning authority certificate (Βεβαίωση Πολεοδομικής Αρχής) issued within 20 working days.
Why it matters when you buy
The planning permit shows what may legally be built on a plot and is the basis for the building permit. If you buy land to build on, it tells you whether your project can go ahead. If you buy a new home, its conditions, such as parking or green space, are part of what the project must meet to get final approval.