Building Permit Process in Turkey: A 10-Step Checklist

The information in this article applies to Turkey. The building permit process is, for most investors, the most abstract and question-mark-filled part of getting a project underway. The checklist below maps out, in order, the steps that must be completed before construction can legally begin on a plot of land. Use it to check off where your own project currently stands.

The 10-step process

• 1. Obtain the Zoning Status Document ("çap"): requested from the municipality the parcel belongs to, this document sets out your building rights: floor area ratio (emsal), site coverage ratio (TAKS), number of floors, and setback distances. The administration must issue it within two working days^[1].
• 2. Prepare the soil survey report: a licensed geology/geophysics engineering firm carries out a soil survey of the site; the foundation type and structural calculations are based on this report.
• 3. Prepare and get investor sign-off on the preliminary architectural project: the massing, floor plan, and overall architectural identity are finalized and approved before moving on to the applied project.
• 4. Complete the applied architectural project: the preliminary project is developed into the applied project, with all the measurements and details the permit application requires.
• 5. Prepare the structural (load-bearing system) project: a civil engineer designs the structural system based on the soil survey data.
• 6. Prepare the mechanical and electrical installation projects: the relevant engineering disciplines prepare the plumbing, electrical, and heating/cooling projects, among others.
• 7. Sign a contract with a construction supervision firm: signing a service contract with a licensed construction supervision ("yapı denetim") company is a legal requirement for the permit application^[3]. For buildings up to 500 m² of construction area the owner chooses the firm; for larger buildings the contract is signed with one of at most two firms designated electronically^[3].
• 8. Collect the relevant institutional approvals: depending on the project, required opinions or approvals are obtained from bodies such as roads, infrastructure, and fire department authorities.
• 9. Pay the permit fees and charges: items such as the building permit fee and the parking contribution set by the municipality are paid.
• 10. Collect the Building Permit from the municipality: once all documents and approvals are complete, the municipality issues the permit; if the file is complete this happens within 30 days of the application, and any deficiencies are notified in writing within 15 days. Construction can only legally begin once this document is in hand^[2].

The order and duration of these ten steps can vary by municipality, by the region the parcel is located in, and by the building's intended use. At MEEZ Mimarlık, we manage this entire process in-house, from the zoning status analysis through to collecting the permit, so you never need to deal with a separate permit office.

If you'd like a rough estimate of your plot's maximum construction area and approximate floor count using the floor area ratio and site coverage figures from your step-1 zoning status document, try our Zoning / Floor Area Ratio (FAR-Coverage) Calculator.

The permit is the license to start construction. For the final step that comes after construction is finished, take a look at our article on the occupancy permit (yapı kullanma izin belgesi).