During the interviews with our customers we always encounter a broad range of questions dealing with the legal aspects of house building.

      First and foremost, you have to pay a visit to the Department of Urban Planning of your city council, district council, “gmina” or “starostwo powiatowe” where it is required that you check if your plot of land is incorporated in the local urban development scheme.

Second, please gather all of the necessary documentation required to request a building permit, i.e.:

• landscape maps
• property information (obtained from your local Land Registry dealing with not only your own plot of land but also the neighbouring ones as well)

The Department of Urban Planning will clearly outline what can and what cannot be done on your plot of land. As a result, your house design will have to strictly conform to this decision.

Next, file your request for the building permit. Moreover, you will also have to file for the conditions dealing with the connection/ provision of the following utilities:

• gas - at your local supplier’s office
• electricity- at your local supplier’s office
• water and sewage- at your local supplier’s office

      Go to a certified land surveyor who will make the boundary survey, the mortgage survey, and the topographic survey. These will form a 1:500 map required in order to make a detailed house design. Next, buy a ready-made design or order one with an architect.

If you decide to go with a ready-made design, choose a certified architect who will make the necessary blueprints along with the land development sketches.

These will take the following into account:

• your urban planning requirements outlined in your building permit
• local environmental conditions
• your personal requirements and design changes (a signed consent from the author of the design is required)
• landscape development plans
• Furthermore, your architect will:
  • add photocopies of his trade certificates and a declaration then the design conforms to all of the required building regulations
  • make all of the necessary arrangements with your utility providers
  • make any necessary changes with the Land Registry (e.g. re-registering of your land)

     Your house design along with landscape plans constitute your construction project. File your construction permit request with your local city council or “starostwo powiatowe”. You will receive an answer within 31 days. The council can extend its deliberation time to 65 days in strenuous situations. In case of no appeals, the decision becomes final after 14 days from the date of delivery. Your construction permit expires after 2 years from the time your decision becomes final.

If you receive a positive decision

     You can start building when the decision becomes final. However, 7 days before your works start, you are required to inform your local council and the architect looking after the development of your project.

Please attach the following documentation:

• the statement of your project manager confirming not only the outline of your health and safety plans but also all of the responsibilities he/she has over the construction site
• the statement of your investments inspector confirming the related duties and responsibilities (if required)
• information on your health and safety signs displayed around the construction site

It is imperative that you obtain your construction project log book which will be issued to you by your local council. Construction project log book is a legal document issued at a fee.

Warning! Important information enclosed!

The beginning of the construction process starts with the preparation works such as:

• mortgage surveys
• land clearing
• site utility work including water and sewer lines
• site preparation and foundation work

     Your project manager is required to keep detailed records in the construction project log book. Your construction permit expires after 2 years from the date it becomes final. Alternatively the suspension of building works for the period longer than 2 years leads to the immediate expiry of your permit as well. You can make minor changes in your design as long as they are included in your documentation. However, any major ones require changes in your construction permit. If you do not comply, your permit is withdrawn.

     You have to inform your local authority that the works have finished. You can start using your newly constructed property if you do not receive any objections from your local authority within 14 days of the delivery of your project closeout.

Based on the materials compiled by Urszula Gołubowska – Witek, MTM Styl