Building permit

A building permit, known in Turkey as yapı ruhsatı, is the document that officially allows a building to be constructed, extended or substantially altered. As a rule, it is issued by the municipality inside municipal boundaries and their adjacent zones, and by the provincial administration outside them. Work carried out without one counts as unauthorised construction, however carefully it is built.

What goes into a permit application

The process starts with the zoning certificate (imar durumu) for the plot. Architectural, structural, mechanical and electrical drawings are then prepared in line with the zoning plan and its plan notes, with a geotechnical report where required. The title deed, the designers’ credentials and a contract with a building inspection firm complete the file. The authority reviews the drawings and sends back anything that is missing or conflicts with the plan. Exact requirements and fees depend on the authority and the type of building.

After the permit

Once the permit is issued, construction is tied to the approved drawings. Changes on site may call for revised drawings and an amended permit, depending on how far they go. When the building is finished, the next step is the occupancy permit (iskan). While the design still exists only on paper, architectural visualization helps owners see how the building will sit on its street among its neighbours. For the wider picture, see the three key stages of an architectural project.