Building Permit

Before starting construction you must establish what development conditions apply to your plot.

Local spatial development plan (MPZP)

The MPZP is a document adopted by the municipal council that defines:

• Land use (residential, commercial, agricultural, etc.)
• Permitted building height
• Maximum built-up area
• Building lines (minimum distances from plot boundaries)
• Required number of parking spaces

How to check the MPZP?

1. Visit the BIP website of your municipality and look for the Spatial Planning section
2. Check the geoportal.gov.pl service — some municipalities publish the MPZP online
3. Submit an application for a MPZP extract and map excerpt at the municipal office

No MPZP — development conditions (WZ)

If the plot is not covered by the MPZP, you must obtain a development conditions decision (WZ):

1. Submit a WZ application at the municipal office
2. Attach a base map with the planned investment marked
3. The office will issue a decision within 90 days (indicative deadline)

Fee for MPZP extract

• Extract: from 30 PLN (up to 5 pages) to 50 PLN (over 5 pages)
• Map excerpt: 20 PLN per A4 page (max 200 PLN)

The construction project must be prepared by a person holding building design qualifications in the relevant specialty.

A construction project consists of:

1. Site development plan — positioning of the building on the plot, access roads, utilities, greenery
2. Architectural and construction design — floor plans, cross-sections, elevations, technical description
3. Technical design — structure, installations (plumbing, electrical, heating, ventilation)

Ready-made vs. individual design

• Ready-made (typical) design: cheaper (3,000–10,000 PLN), faster, requires adaptation to the plot
• Individual design: more expensive (15,000–50,000+ PLN), longer preparation time, fully customised

Adaptation of a ready-made design

A ready-made design must be adapted to the specific plot by a licensed architect. Adaptation includes:

• Adjustment to MPZP/WZ
• Adjustment to soil conditions
• Positioning on the plot
• Any changes (within those permitted by the author)

Time

Individual design: 2–6 months. Adaptation of ready-made: 2–8 weeks.

Before submitting the building permit application (or notification), gather the full set of required documents.

Documents for a building permit

1. Building permit application (form PB-1)
2. Site development plan — 3 copies
3. Architectural and construction design — 3 copies
4. Declaration on the right to dispose of the property for construction purposes (form PB-5)
5. Development conditions decision (if no MPZP)
6. Utility connection conditions (electricity, gas, water, sewage)
7. Any agreements and opinions (heritage conservator, road manager, etc.)

Documents for construction notification (house up to 70 m²)

1. Construction notification (form PB-2a)
2. Site development plan — 3 copies
3. Architectural and construction design — 3 copies
4. Declaration on the right to dispose of the property (PB-5)
5. Declaration that the house is for own use (for houses up to 70 m²)

Technical design

The technical design is not attached to the application — you submit it to the construction manager before works begin.

The building permit application (or construction notification) is submitted to the starostwo powiatowe (or city office with district rights) competent for the location of the plot.

Submission methods

• In person at the starostwo registry
• By post — registered letter
• Electronically — via the e-Budownictwo portal (requires a Trusted Profile)

e-Budownictwo portal

The e-Budownictwo portal allows online submission:

1. Log in via login.gov.pl
2. Complete form PB-1 or PB-2a
3. Attach the project electronically (PDF)
4. Sign with a Trusted Profile and submit

Stamp duty

• Building permit for a single-family house: exempt from duty
• Building permit for a commercial building: 1 PLN per m² of usable area (max 539 PLN)
• Construction notification: free of charge

Processing time

• Building permit: the authority has 65 days to issue a decision (from the day a complete application is submitted)
• Notification: the authority has 21 days to raise an objection; no objection = tacit consent

After submitting a complete application, the authority processes it within the statutory deadline.

Deadlines

• Building permit: up to 65 days from submission of a complete application
• Construction notification: 21 days for tacit consent (no objection = you can build)

What happens during processing?

1. The authority checks the completeness of the application (deficiencies → summons for supplementation)
2. The authority verifies the design for compliance with MPZP/WZ and building regulations
3. The authority notifies the parties to the proceedings (neighbours may submit comments)
4. The authority issues a building permit decision (or refuses)

Coming into force

The decision becomes final after 14 days of delivery, if none of the parties appeal. Only after it becomes final may you start construction.

Appeal

Against a refusal decision (or against a permit decision — by neighbours), an appeal to the voivode is available within 14 days of delivery.

Validity of the permit

The building permit expires if construction is not started within 3 years of the decision becoming final or is interrupted for more than 3 years.

After receiving a final building permit (or tacit consent on a notification) you may start construction.

Before starting

1. Hire a construction site manager — a person with building qualifications to manage the works
2. Obtain a construction log — since 2023 an electronic construction log (EDB) is mandatory, available on e-Budownictwo
3. Hand the technical design to the site manager — it must be available on the construction site
4. Notify of the intention to start works to the building supervision authority (at least 7 days before starting)

Electronic construction log (EDB)

Since 2023, the construction log is kept electronically:

1. Log in to e-Budownictwo
2. Submit an application for a construction log
3. Provide the building permit number
4. The site manager keeps the log — making entries electronically

Information board

Place an information board on the construction site containing:

• Type of works and address
• Building permit number
• Investor's and site manager's details

Important

Construction is carried out in accordance with the approved design. Significant deviations require a change of building permit.

If you built a structure without the required permit or notification, you can legalize it at the district building supervision inspectorate (PINB).

Simplified procedure (structures older than 20 years)

Since 2020, structures built without a permit more than 20 years ago can be legalized in a simplified procedure:

1. Submit a legalization application to PINB
2. Attach: declaration on the right to property, post-completion geodetic inventory, technical expert opinion
3. No legalization fee
4. PINB issues a legalization decision

Standard procedure (newer structures)

For newer unauthorized constructions:

1. PINB issues a ruling to stop the works
2. Orders submission of documents (substitute design, certificate of compliance with MPZP)
3. After document submission — charges a legalization fee (multiple of the rate 500 PLN × coefficient)
4. After payment — issues a legalization decision

Legalization fee

The fee depends on the type and size of the structure. For a single-family house it may be 50,000 PLN. Non-payment = demolition order.