The building permit procedure
The legal basis
Section titled “The legal basis”Building authority procedures and inspections are governed by government decree 281/2024 (IX. 30.). It replaced the earlier decree 312/2012 (XI. 8.) — anyone still citing that is quoting a repealed rule.
The main steps
Section titled “The main steps”1. Preparation
Section titled “1. Preparation”Clarifying the data on the plot, the conditions of the local building code, the utilities and any restrictions. This is the stage at which the feasibility of the project is decided — and where change is cheapest.
2. Assembling the documentation
Section titled “2. Assembling the documentation”The legislation sets out what the permit documentation has to contain. This is not the detailed design: it presents the siting, dimensions, use and appearance of the building and its compliance with the regulations. The content of the permit design.
3. Submission
Section titled “3. Submission”Electronically, through the authority system. Authority systems.
4. The procedure
Section titled “4. The procedure”The authority examines compliance with the regulations and, depending on the nature of the case, specialist questions as well: heritage, fire, public health, transport, environment. It may call for missing items.
5. Decision and validity
Section titled “5. Decision and validity”The permit is valid for a defined period, and construction has to start within it. If it expires, the procedure has to be repeated — a serious loss in practice, so the programme has to be aligned to the validity of the permit.
What moves even during the procedure
Section titled “What moves even during the procedure”The legal environment changes: the authority organisation was restructured from 1 October 2024, and the procedural details can be amended too. On a longer project, check what regime is in force before starting.
The designer’s responsibility
Section titled “The designer’s responsibility”The designer is responsible for the content of the documentation, and the content of the construction documentation may not depart from what the final and enforceable permit contains — the designer is responsible for that too.
That sentence explains why the permitted design cannot be departed from on a “we’ll sort it out during construction” basis.
This is not legal advice
Section titled “This is not legal advice”The summary above reflects a September 2026 reading of the legislation cited. On a specific matter the position of the acting authority and the text in force govern.