Overview
Zoning law regulates planned urban development, land use, building conditions and permits: zoning plans, land readjustment, building permits, occupancy certificates, unlicensed buildings and urban transformation. The core rules are in the Zoning Law No. 3194, together with municipal, coastal, heritage and environmental legislation.
Zoning decisions directly affect property rights. Inspection reports and fine calculations are technical documents; the office’s engineering background helps identify measurement, classification and calculation errors.
What we handle
Zoning fines
Fines under Article 42 of the Zoning Law for unlicensed or non-compliant construction, examined for the inspection report, measurements, building class, increase factors and the municipal council decision.
Construction stop reports and sealing
Reviewing whether the report shows the violation in a measurable and verifiable way and whether notification rules were followed.
Demolition orders
Annulment actions with stay requests; assessing whether the violation can be remedied or the building licensed.
Zoning plans and amendments
Objections during the one-month publication period and annulment actions based on planning principles and public interest.
Land readjustment
Challenging readjustment under Article 18: contribution ratio, location of the allocated parcel and allocation schedules.
Building and occupancy permits
Refusals, cancellations and delays of building permits and occupancy certificates.
How the process works
Reading the report
Stop report, council decision and notification reviewed technically.
Permit and plan status
Permit, approved project and plan notes compared with the building as built.
Objection and lawsuit
Plan objection or annulment action; stay requests for demolition and sealing.
Remedying the violation
Licensing the building where possible, alongside any criminal aspect.
Before your meeting
Bring originals or legible copies of whichever of the following you have. You don’t need everything — missing items are identified together.
- Construction stop report and notification
- Municipal council decision
- Building permit and approved projects
- Zoning status certificate and plan notes
- Title deed
- Photographs and measurements of the building
Key deadlines
| Matter | Period | Starts from |
|---|---|---|
| Lawsuit against a zoning fine or demolition order | 60 days | Notification of the decision |
| Remedying the violation / obtaining a permit | 1 month | Notification of the stop report |
| Objection to a zoning plan | 1 month | Publication of the plan |
| Annulment action against a zoning plan | 60 days | End of the publication period |
These are general rules; special provisions or a different starting date may apply in a particular case. It is best to have the deadline assessed on the day you receive a notification.
Frequently asked questions
How do I challenge a zoning fine?
By filing an annulment action at the administrative court within 60 days of notification of the council decision. The legality of the stop report and every element of the calculation are examined.
What can be done against a demolition order?
File an annulment action and request a stay of execution — otherwise the demolition may be carried out while the case is pending.
A plan amendment affects my land. What can I do?
Object during the one-month publication period and file an annulment action within 60 days of its end.
The information on this page is general and does not constitute legal advice, a guarantee of outcome or an undertaking in respect of any specific matter. Periods and amounts are subject to change by legislation.
