Romania seismic risk and urban planning regulations

New urban planning and construction regulations in Romania are impacting the real estate market, particularly regarding older buildings. Under Law 212/2022, residential blocks are categorized into four seismic risk classes, ranging from RsI (susceptibility to collapse) to RsIV (comparable to modern standards). Experts have warned that buyers of older apartments face unique risks due to a lack of complete technical histories and the expiration of municipal evaluation deadlines.

Following stricter legislation, including Law no. 426/2023, which prohibits renting spaces in buildings classified as Seismic Risk I (RsI), Airbnb has initiated a verification process to remove listings in these high-risk properties. The platform is notifying owners, providing a 14-day window to submit documentation—such as updated land registry extracts or technical expertise reports—to prove their property is not in the RsI category. Non-compliance with rental prohibitions can result in fines of up to 10,000 lei. Airbnb has noted that a standard tourism classification certificate is insufficient, as it does not necessarily include seismic risk verification.

Additionally, the implementation of Law no. 169/2026, the Code of Territorial Planning, Urbanism, and Construction (CATUC), which replaced Law no. 50/1991 on August 25, 2026, introduces new complexities for property owners. While CATUC offers simplified notification procedures for certain interventions, discrepancies between actual apartment layouts and official cadastral documentation—such as moved doors or removed walls—may impact property sales. Such inconsistencies can be identified by surveyors or bank appraisers, potentially delaying mortgage approvals until cadastral records are updated.