How to Get an Occupancy Permit (İskân) in Turkey After Construction
🇹🇷 This article describes regulations and processes specific to Turkey. Requirements differ in other countries.
A building permit authorizes you to start construction; the occupancy permit (İskân / yapı kullanma izin belgesi) is the official confirmation that a building is actually fit to be used. We explain this final step that comes once construction is complete.
The information in this article applies to Turkey. The building permit authorizes a building to start construction, while the occupancy permit, commonly called "iskân", is the official confirmation after completion that the building can actually be used. The two are often confused, but they belong to different stages.
Why is the occupancy permit needed?
Under the Zoning Law, Article 31, buildings without an occupancy permit do not receive electricity, water or sewerage services until the permit is obtained.[1] Under the Condominium Law, Article 3, the construction servitude (kat irtifakı) is converted into condominium ownership on the basis of the occupancy permit issued for the whole building;[2] without it, the flats cannot move to condominium ownership in the land registry. So the permit is not a formality but the precondition for using the building legally and practically.
How does the process work?
Once construction is completed in line with the approved projects, an application is made to the municipality. The authority confirms that the building matches its permit and annexes and is technically safe to use, and must conclude the application within thirty days at the latest (Zoning Law, Article 30). Your municipality lists the documents required.
What delays it
Changes made during construction that depart from the approved project (removing a wall, changing a room's use) show up as mismatches at inspection and may require an additional alteration project. A change to a permitted building requires a new permit anyway (Zoning Law, Article 21), so any departure from the project should be settled with the municipality in advance.
How MEEZ Mimarlık handles it
Just as we run the building permit process end to end, we take on the occupancy permit with the same responsibility. By tracking during construction that nothing departs from the approved project, we reduce the risk of delay at handover.
Sources
- [1]Zoning Law No. 3194 (İmar Kanunu), Articles 21, 30 and 31Last checked: 29 September 2026
- [2]Condominium Law No. 634 (Kat Mülkiyeti Kanunu), Article 3Last checked: 29 September 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the building permit and the occupancy permit the same thing?
No. The building permit allows construction to start; the occupancy permit (iskân) is issued after completion, once it is confirmed that the building matches its permit and annexes and is technically safe to use (Zoning Law, Article 30).
Can electricity and water be connected without an occupancy permit?
No. Under the Zoning Law, Article 31, buildings without an occupancy permit do not receive electricity, water or sewerage services until the permit is obtained. Units that have received the permit do.
How long does the municipality take to decide?
Under the Zoning Law, Article 30, the municipality or governorship must conclude the owner's application within thirty days at the latest.
What delays the occupancy permit?
Changes made during construction that depart from the approved project (removing a wall, changing a room's use) cause mismatches at inspection and may require an additional alteration approval. A change to a permitted building requires a new permit anyway (Zoning Law, Article 21).
