Romania apartment renovation rules change under new urbanism code

New regulations regarding apartment renovations in Romania may impact property sales if interior modifications do not align with official cadastral documentation. Discrepancies such as moved doors, removed walls, or expanded rooms can create issues when a property is put on the market.

While a land registry extract proves ownership, it does not include a technical expertise of the apartment. Discrepancies may be identified by buyers, surveyors, or bank appraisers during mortgage processes, potentially delaying or preventing credit approval until the cadastral records are updated to reflect the actual layout.

The new Law no. 169/2026, known as the Code of Territorial Planning, Urbanism, and Construction (CATUC), replaced the previous Law no. 50/1991 as of August 25, 2026. This new code introduces simplified notification procedures for certain types of interventions.