Extending the building permit, in short

The validity term: the right to start the works

A building or demolition permit is valid for 3 years from the date of issue. You must start the works within that period.

Note: this term cannot be extended. Art. 309 para. (5) explicitly bars extending the validity term, regardless of the reasons given. Art. 309 para. (6) separately allows validity to be extended by at most 12 months where the works cannot be finished within the execution period, so the bar concerns the right to start the works, not their execution. If you do not start the works within the 3 years, the permit lapses and you need a new one.

Within that period, though, you can request a modification permit if the project brief changes.

Validity can be suspended once, by notifying the town hall with the reasons for the request, for at most 12 months.

The Codul urbanismului applies from 25 August 2026, and Legea 50/1991 was repealed on that same date (art. 576). The Code says nothing express about permits issued before it, and your permit's terms are the ones written on it: confirm them with the issuing authority.

The execution period: after you have started the works

From the moment you notify the town hall that you have started the works, the validity term automatically extends for the whole execution period stated in the permit.

If you do not notify the start of the works, the execution period is calculated from the date the permit was issued, so you lose time.

If the works cannot be finished in time, you can request an extension of the execution period:

• The request is filed at least 15 working days before it expires.
• It is granted once only, for at most 12 months.
• A fee of 30% of the initial authorisation fee is paid.

If you do not request the extension and do not finish the works in time, the permit loses its validity and you must request a new one.

Other situations where the permit loses its validity

• If execution of the works is suspended for more than 24 months.
• The exception at art. 310 para. (4), for court litigation over ownership rights, the legality of the permit or other litigation affecting the right to carry out the works, and for force majeure, is written only for the situation at para. (2), works not finished. The text does not say clearly whether it also covers the over-24-month suspension at para. (3): confirm with the issuing authority.

If you halt the works beyond the execution period without taking conservation measures, resuming them requires new technical documentation, drawn up on the basis of a technical expertise of the works already carried out.

Extending the certificat de urbanism

The extension of a certificat de urbanism for building or demolition is granted once only, for at most 24 months. After that period expires, a new certificat de urbanism must be issued.

• The request is filed with the same authority that issued the certificate, at least 15 working days before it expires; until 25 August 2026 the old rule applies, at least 15 calendar days. The extension is a procedure attached to the same administrative act, not a new one.
• If you do not request the extension within this term, the certificate's validity ends by operation of law. The law does not provide for reinstating the term.
• Validity also ends if you give up your intention to build, in which case you must notify the issuing town hall.
• The extension applies to the certificat de urbanism for building or demolition. For the certificat de urbanism de informare, the law does not provide for an extension at all; a new one must be requested.

The extension of the certificat de urbanism is taxed at 30% of the fee paid for issuing the initial certificate, under the Fiscal Code (Legea 227/2015, art. 474 para. 3), which the Codul urbanismului refers to directly in art. 253 para. (10).