Albanian government approved new amendments to the territorial development regulation on Wednesday, aimed at strengthening oversight, improving transparency, and streamlining the building permit process.

The changes include procedural improvements for rural development projects, granting local authorities the right to issue construction permits for private single-family homes.

Clear deadlines are also introduced for the payment of fees related to development permits, project modifications, deadline extensions, and usage certificates. Requests will be automatically rejected if payments are not made within 15 days of notification.

The updated regulation prohibits the issuance of building permits for privately owned land designated for public spaces. It also imposes restrictions on fencing and other barriers that obstruct access to such areas.

Housing projects in rural areas now require approval from the National Territorial Planning Agency and the Territorial Development Agency. The e-Leje platform will ensure transparent transfers of permits between developers.

The government said the measures are designed to curb illegal construction, improve planning discipline, and streamline procedures for legitimate investors. The rules enter into force after publication in the Official Gazette.

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