Turkey adopts comprehensive overhaul of building and zoning regulations

The Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change issued a new decree amending the Planned Areas Building Regulation, published in the Official Gazette. It introduces a range of changes affecting construction, permits, and land‑use.

Key measures include mandatory elevators in three‑storey buildings with a basement and in any building of four storeys or more, while lower‑rise houses may install elevators or accessible lift platforms under specified conditions. The regulation defines “decorative pool” as a non‑swimming aesthetic water feature and allows garden pergolas and such pools to be excluded from the plot’s 20 % coverage limit. Certain communal spaces—children’s play areas, prayer rooms, parking and unused roof terraces—are now counted as common area in floor‑area calculations. Permit renewal rules require compliance with current fire, seismic, thermal and energy‑efficiency standards for works started within two years; projects not yet started must obtain a new permit. A temporary clause permits office‑licensed units to be converted to residential use provided residential space does not exceed 60 % of the parcel, while existing projects under prior contracts remain exempt.