Greece sets June 22 deadline for mandatory plot clearing ahead of fire season

The Greek Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection has extended the deadline for the compulsory clearing of vacant plots to 22 June 2026, pushing back the original 15 June date by seven days. Property owners must remove dry vegetation, broken trees, combustible material and submit a declaration through the ministry’s online platform.

Non‑compliance carries administrative fines: €500 for no cleaning and no declaration, €100 for cleaning without declaration, and a charge of €1 per square metre (minimum €200, maximum €2,000) for un‑cleared plots. False declarations are punishable by a €5,000 fine and at least six months imprisonment. Municipalities may carry out cleaning themselves and bill owners for the full cost.

Scanning inspections by municipal and fire‑service officials will begin on 23 June, following the platform’s closure. Over 574 000 declarations have already been filed nationwide. Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Evanggelos Tournas emphasized that “the climate crisis gives us no extension.”