Romania's new Urban Planning Code creates administrative challenges for local authorities

Romania's new Urban Planning, Territorial Arrangement, and Construction Code (Law no. 169/2026) entered into force on August 25, 2026. The legislation aims to modernize urban development by ensuring that new residential areas are accompanied by necessary infrastructure, including roads, utilities, schools, and green spaces.

However, the implementation has caused significant administrative challenges for local authorities. Under the new regulations, town halls must maintain urban planning departments staffed by qualified professionals, specifically a chief architect and personnel with specialized degrees in urbanism, architecture, or construction engineering.

Many mayors, particularly in rural areas, report being unable to issue urban planning certificates or construction permits due to a lack of specialized staff and budget to hire architects. In some regions, such as Buzau County, only a small fraction of municipalities meet the legal requirements to operate independently, forcing many to outsource these services to county councils to avoid total administrative paralysis.