Whether you've inherited land from a family member in Croatia or purchased the land - here is a brief breakdown on the development application process. This process is quite important as there is a few different permits you can apply for and this helps during the sale of the land / development of the land.

Submitting a development application in Croatia generally involves a few key steps and navigating the country’s planning and construction regulations. The process may vary slightly depending on the type and scale of the development (e.g., residential, commercial, tourism), and which municipality or city you're applying in (e.g., Zagreb, Split, Dubrovnik). Here's a general overview:

 1. Determine Zoning and Land Use

• Check the spatial plan (Prostorni plan) of the local municipality.
• Make sure your development idea is in line with the General Urban Plan (GUP) or Detailed Urban Plan (DPU).

2. Prepare a Conceptual Design

• Hire a licensed builder, architect or engineer in Croatia.
• They’ll prepare:
• Conceptual project (idejni projekt)
• Technical documentation in accordance with the Croatian Construction Act (Zakon o gradnji)

3. Request a Location Information Certificate (Lokacijska informacija)

• This document confirms zoning rules, permitted land use, and planning conditions.
• Issued by the local planning authority

4. Submit for a Location Permit (Lokacijska dozvola) (if required)

• Usually required for infrastructure projects or larger developments.
• Includes documentation like:
• Proof of ownership or land lease
• Conceptual design
• Environmental impact screening (if applicable)
• Application is submitted to the local administrative office for construction and planning (Upravni odjel za graditeljstvo i prostorno uređenje).

5. Obtain a Building Permit (Građevinska dozvola)

• Most important permit for construction.
• Requires:
• Main design project (Glavni projekt)
• Proof of legal land ownership
• Consent from utility companies
• Payment of communal and water contributions (komunalni i vodni doprinosi)
• Apply through the state e-Građani portal or directly with the competent office.

Typically if you are preparing to sell land, it is best to have a location permit in place or main project approval as this shows potential buyers that the land is ready for development and there isn't any issues with building on the land. The will make your land more favourable to potential buyers and speed up the sales process. This process can take anywhere from 6 months - 2 years (depending on the permit, local authorities, size of development etc). 

At Croatia Property Advisor, we can help you through the complete development application process with our certified architects and engineers. We are able to tailor our services to get you ready to sell your land or build your dream home! Feel free to contact us below to start your process!