Legalization

Law on special conditions for registration of property rights in real estate ("Special Conditions for Recording and Registration of Rights to Real Estate") which was enacted in 2025. years in Serbia allows owners of illegally built buildings to acquire formal ownership rights over them. The procedures of the old law on legalization are abolished (the previous law ceases to apply) — all unresolved claims under the previous laws are terminated under the provisions of the new law.

Who can claim the right

The law covers facilities built without a building permit, infrastructure and support facilities, as well as parts of the building (apartments, separate parts) and the land below the facility.Exceptions there are: objects that are on land in protected zones (e.g. parks, cultural goods, water and railway expropriation lanes) I can't get ownership — such facilities become the property of the Republic of Serbia "ex lege".

   If the facility is built on private land belonging to someone else, and it is not possible to prove ownership of that land — the owner of the facility must resolve the legal status of that land within 5 years. If unsuccessful, the landowner may seek removal of the facility.

Enrollment procedure

1. It's all going on through a digital platform. (agency for spatial planning + Republic Geodetic authority.
2. No technical documentation (project, use permit) is required in the traditional sense, but it is advisable to submit a project or elaborate construction works.
3. The agency verifies the conditions, issues a certificate of recording ("certificate of recording"), which has the legal effect of a public enforceable document ("public enforceable document")
4. After that, the Geodetic authority enters the right of ownership in the cadastre.

Fees / charges

           The enrollment fee is relatively low: it ranges from. € 100 to €1,000, depending on the area of the object and the type of object.

          Certain socially vulnerable groups (people with disabilities, large families, war veterans, socially disadvantaged) may be exempt from payment.

Deadlines

          Application deadline: 60 days from the start of the application process.

Legal status of the object after registration

           Property rights under this law. it does not guarantee technical security. the object (ex. structural stability), nor that the object has a use permit.