For the first time, Greece introduces a comprehensive and unified Code that consolidates all the legal provisions governing construction, land use, urban planning, urban regeneration, and spatial development across the country. Until now, the legal framework in this domain was fragmented—comprised of dozens of scattered, often contradictory or outdated laws and regulations—leading to confusion, complexity, bureaucratic inefficiencies, delays, and legal uncertainty for citizens, professionals, and public authorities alike.
The new Code does not introduce new regulations. Rather, it consolidates, modernizes, and clarifies the existing legal framework. Presented in a coherent structure and plain language, it significantly enhances its practical usability. This codification abolishes all previous relevant laws, replacing them with a single, unified body of rules that reflect the current legal standards.
Landmark Laws Codified in the New Framework Include:
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1923 Legislative Decree on City, Town, and Settlement Plans
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1983 Law 1337/1983 (The "Tritsis Law") – Expansion of Urban Plans and Residential Development
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1985 Law 1577/1985 – General Building Code (GBC)
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1997 Law 2508/1997 – Sustainable Residential Development
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2012 Law 4067/2012 – New Building Code (NBC)
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2014 Law 4269/2014 – Spatial and Urban Reform – Sustainable Development
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2016 Law 4447/2016 – Spatial Planning and Sustainable Development
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2020 Law 4759/2020 – Modernization of Spatial and Urban Planning Legislation
Structure and Scope
The new Code comprises 477 articles, organized into nine thematic sections, encompassing the full spectrum of spatial and urban planning:
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Spatial Planning (terrestrial and marine)
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Urban Regeneration and Urban Planning Instruments
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Implementation of Urban Plans and Expropriations
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Building and Land Use Regulations (within and outside city plans)
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Building Permits and Regulatory Controls
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Dangerous Buildings
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Unauthorized Construction
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Urban Policy and National Strategies
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Collective Bodies and Institutional Structures
Although originally mandated by law in 2016, the implementation of the new Code only began in earnest in 2020. A specially appointed committee—comprising distinguished experts including members of the Council of State, the Legal Council of the State, university professors, legal scholars, and technical experts from the Ministry of Environment and Energy—undertook the codification effort. The committee was chaired by the Honorary President of the Council of State, Mr. Menoudakos.
The Code will be freely and immediately accessible to all citizens via an interactive digital legal database, developed in collaboration with the University of Patras and hosted on the Ministry’s official website. This platform will enable keyword searches, article-by-article navigation, thematic browsing, and real-time updates in case of legislative amendments—offering a user-friendly and transparent tool for both professionals and the public.
A Milestone for Legal Certainty and Sustainable Development
This legislative initiative is more than a mere technical exercise. It constitutes a pivotal reform aimed at enhancing legal certainty, transparency, and systemic coherence in urban planning. It provides citizens and professionals with a reliable, authoritative, and user-friendly reference point, eliminating the inconsistencies and ambiguities of the past. At the same time, the Code promotes sustainable development and environmental protection by establishing a clear, predictable, and uniformly applied legal framework across the national territory.
The adoption of the new Code marks a new era in spatial planning in Greece—one that moves away from fragmented, outdated, and unclear regulations, and toward a future built on clarity, justice, and institutional stability.
The Code’s drafting process was re-initiated in April 2025, under Law 5193/2025, titled "Capital Market Enhancement and Other Provisions." It was formally presented to the Council of Ministers on Friday, August 29, 2029, by the Minister for the Environment and Energy, Mr. Stavros Papastavrou, and the Deputy Minister, Mr. Nikos Tagaras. The Code is expected to be tabled in Parliament for adoption within September.
