The legislative initiative foresees a comprehensive restructuring of building services and the establishment of a unified, robust authority: the National Organization for Land Registry and Building Control (EOKED). The proposed bill transfers the responsibilities for issuing building permits, pre-approvals, and construction inspections from local authorities to the Hellenic Cadastre, which will evolve into a central authority for construction and property management. Simultaneously, 20 Regional and 77 Local Building Centers will be established, leveraging the existing Cadastre Offices.
The objective is to create a unified public building authority with digital infrastructure, geospatial data, and standardized procedures that will be implemented transparently nationwide.
In the new Organization, responsibilities will include the issuance of building permits and construction inspections such as pre-approvals of building permits, issuance of building terms certificates, subsequent tax inspections, review of deviation files and their submission to the Ministry of Environment and Energy, random and complaint-based legality inspections of permits, suspension of works or revocation of permits where necessary, issuance of Construction Control Certificates (P.E.K.) upon project completion, monitoring of plan implementation, illegal and hazardous constructions, conducting site inspections, enforcement of work stoppages and fines, demolitions and compliance measures, and management of files related to illegal and hazardous constructions.
Digital “One-Stop-Shop” for Property
The reform serves as a foundation for creating a single digital service point for all property and construction matters. Citizens will be able to access services regardless of their location, ensuring equal treatment, faster permit issuance, and simplified procedures. Ministry sources emphasize that "the protection of property with transparency and equality before the law is at the core of government policy," highlighting that the reform "strengthens public administration and unifies the rules to be applied consistently to all."
For the first time, the use of artificial intelligence systems is anticipated in the preventive review of building permits. The new system will identify high-risk files—in sensitive areas, highly complex projects, or zones with a history of violations—so that inspection mechanisms can focus on them.
Additionally, a Registry of Independent Building Inspectors will be established, with mandatory permit inspections distributed by lottery. The aim is to enhance the reliability of the system and prevent violations before construction begins.
Currently, mandatory inspections are conducted during the construction phase by registered engineers in the Building Inspectors Registry, which operates under the Technical Chamber of Greece (TEE). Engineers eligible for this registry include those authorized to prepare or supervise building projects, comprising either certified engineers who are TEE members, graduates of technological engineering programs who are members of the Professional and Scientific Association of Technological Education Engineers, those registered in the Technical Names Book of the TEE or an equivalent registry, or engineers who have obtained recognition of professional qualifications in Greece under relevant EU and national legislation.
The registry distinguishes three categories of inspectors:
- Category I: Inspectors may conduct inspections for buildings and structures up to 250 m² or for installations.
- Category II: Registered engineers who are TEE members with at least 5 years of professional practice, graduates of technological engineering programs with at least 5 years of membership in the relevant association, or engineers with recognized professional qualifications and at least 5 years of relevant experience. Category II inspectors may inspect buildings and structures up to 1,000 m² or installations.
- Category III: Registered engineers who are TEE members with at least 10 years of professional practice, graduates of technological engineering programs with at least 10 years of membership in the relevant association, or engineers with recognized professional qualifications and at least 10 years of relevant experience. Category III inspectors may inspect all buildings and structures, regardless of size, as well as installations.
Although municipalities lose the authority to issue permits, they retain critical responsibilities such as urban planning studies and redevelopment projects, management of public and communal spaces, land use decisions, plan implementation procedures, and cadastral and topographical applications. They remain the central institutional interlocutor for regional planning.
According to the Ministry, the transition will take place in three phases:
- By the end of the first quarter of 2026, the legislative framework will be adopted;
- In June 2026, the pilot operation of 3 Regional and 3 Local Building Centers will commence;
- In early 2027, EOKED will be fully operational nationwide.
Staff from the existing building services will be transferred with guaranteed job continuity.
The Ministry emphasizes that EOKED "does not constitute a mere organizational change, but establishes the first coherent, modern, and fully digital spatial management system."
