How to get a building permit in Türkiye: documents, process and occupancy permit

In Türkiye, under Article 21 of Zoning Law No. 3194, a building permit from the municipality or governorship is required to construct a new building, with certain exceptions. The permit is issued on the owner's application, with architectural, structural, electrical and mechanical drawings prepared in line with the zoning status. As a rule, changes to a permitted building also require a new permit (Zoning Law No. 3194).

Before the permit: zoning status

Everything starts with the plot's zoning status. The zoning status document shows how much can be built on the plot (floor area ratio, footprint), building height, setbacks and permitted use. The architectural design is drawn within these limits. The calculation rules are defined in the Planned Areas Zoning Regulation; we explain the details in our villa project guide.

Which documents are needed for a building permit?

Under Article 22 of the Zoning Law, the application is made by petition by the owner or their legal representative, with the following attached:

• Title deed (in exceptional cases, a document replacing the title deed)
• Architectural drawings
• Structural (reinforced concrete / steel) drawings
• Electrical and mechanical drawings, plans and calculations
• Site plan with reference points (or a dimensioned site sketch)

In practice, municipalities also ask for additional documents such as a soil survey, a building inspection contract, approvals from the relevant professional chambers and an energy performance calculation. The current list should be confirmed with the municipality responsible for the plot (for example, Eyüpsultan Municipality for Göktürk and Kemerburgaz).

How long does a permit take?

Under the law, the municipality or governorship reviews the application and, if nothing is missing or wrong, issues the permit within 30 days of the application at the latest. If something is missing or wrong, it notifies the applicant in writing within 15 days; once corrected, the permit is issued within 15 days of the new application at the latest (Zoning Law Art. 22). Design preparation and approval processes fall outside these legal periods, so allow separately for the design stage when setting the schedule.

Which work needs no permit?

Under Article 21 of the law, pointing, internal and external plaster, paint, whitewash, gutters, windows and doors, floor and ceiling finishes, electrical and plumbing repairs, roof repair and relaying tiles, and other alterations and repairs that do not affect structural elements are not subject to a permit. Any intervention that touches the structure needs separate assessment; we explain this in our article on structure and permits.

What is an occupancy permit (iskân)?

When the building is completed, an occupancy permit must be obtained from the authority that issued the building permit before it can be used. The authority checks that the building complies with the permit and its attachments and is technically safe to use, and must conclude the application within 30 days at the latest (Zoning Law Art. 30). The occupancy permit is needed to make electricity, water and gas subscriptions permanent and to move to condominium ownership on the title deed.

Where are applications tracked?

Permit and occupancy procedures are largely run through municipalities' electronic systems and the e-Government services of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change (e-Government Gateway). Owners are advised to follow the process step by step together with the architect who prepared the drawings.

“A permit is not a formality; it is proof that the building is safe and legal.”

Conclusion

The building permit process runs smoothly with a correct reading of the zoning status and complete drawings. We prepare architectural designs according to zoning conditions and accompany owners through the permit process. For details see our architecture service and our article on design stages. This article is for general information; as legislation can change, confirm current conditions with the relevant municipality.

Frequently asked questions