How do you get a building permit in Türkiye?
What are the steps of the permit process?
Required documents
| Document | Where to get it | What it is for |
|---|---|---|
| Title deed record | Land registry office, e-Devlet | Shows ownership and shareholders |
| Zoning certificate | Municipal zoning department | States FAR, height, setbacks and permitted use |
| Setting-out plan and level section | Cadastre, licensed survey offices, municipality | Defines the plot boundaries and road levels |
| Geotechnical report | Geological and geophysical engineers | Input for foundation and structural design |
| Architectural drawings | Architect | Plans, sections, elevations and area calculations of the building |
| Structural, electrical and mechanical drawings | The relevant engineers | Design of the structure and building services |
| Building inspection contract | Building inspection firm | Takes on the inspection of drawings and construction |
| Contractor and site manager documents | Building contractor | Define responsibility for construction |
Municipalities and the type of building may require additional documents, such as a lift design, fire report, parking calculation, landscape design or opinions from other authorities. Get the municipality's current list before applying.
Permit validity
Under Türkiye's Zoning Law, construction must start within two years of the permit date and the building must be completed within five years. If work does not start or finish within these periods, the permit lapses and must be renewed. Substantial changes to the design after the permit is issued require an amendment permit.
After the permit: the occupancy permit
When construction is complete, the building is inspected for compliance with the permit and drawings, and a building use permit (iskan, or occupancy permit) is issued. Without it, the building cannot move to condominium ownership, and utility connections and sales are affected. Work that departs from the drawings is the most common reason the occupancy permit is delayed.
What slows the process down
- Inconsistencies between the zoning certificate and the title deed or cadastral records.
- Lack of agreement between shareholders.
- Architectural and engineering drawings that do not match; the authority asks for corrections.
- Late opinions from other bodies (heritage boards, highways, aviation and so on).
- Applying with missing documents.
For how the permit drawings relate to the other stages, see our article on the architectural design process.