Romania adopts new land‑use and construction code to streamline permits

The Romanian Senate approved a comprehensive land‑use and construction code proposed by the RMDSZ minority party. The law, which takes effect 15 days after publication, consolidates 21 fragmented regulations into a single framework and introduces a national digital “one‑stop” platform for building permits. Average permitting time is expected to fall from four–eight months to about 65 days, with small projects such as 50 m² annexes or garden sheds requiring only a simple notification to local authorities. Larger developments must contribute to local infrastructure, while the timeframe for approving general urban plans is reduced from up to five years to six‑12 months. The reform aims to cut bureaucracy, accelerate investment, and create more predictable, transparent processes for both rural and urban construction.

The legislation was championed by RMDSZ senator Cseke Attila, who highlighted the digitalization of the approval process and tighter responsibility rules for the construction sector.