All citizens who have built illegally in previous decades can submit a request to have their buildings included in the legal system by March of next year, even if those buildings disrupt the living environment of the surrounding buildings.
This opportunity is provided to them by the new Law on the Legalization of Illegal Buildings, which entered into force last week.
"That it is located on this satellite image that was taken during July 2025 and that it is not located on any public facilities, any of public interest in that area. These are the construction of roads, hospitals, schools and some other infrastructure facilities. If it is within two meters of the neighboring cadastral plot, it will be able to be legalized," says Nikola Ražnatović from the Directorate for the Legalization of Illegal Facilities.
Previous authorities have tried to finally bring order to the area for years, when citizens submitted requests for legalization to municipal services. However, they mostly gather dust.
"From 2018 to July 1, 2025, 62.495 requests were submitted, of which 3.895 requests were legalized, which means that we have about 6% of legalized facilities since 2018. Local government units are obliged to initiate them again in relation to the entry into force of this law and to issue a decision based on this law," Ražnatović points out.
Residents of Budva will have to pay the most if they built illegally – as much as 86 euros per square meter. Residents of Nikšić will have to pay twenty euros less, and residents of Podgorica and Novi Sad around 40, for the buildings they live in. Those living in the north will pay an average of around 9 euros per square meter, with residents of Šavnica paying the least – just 83 cents.
For buildings that are not primary residences, the price per square meter will be twice as high.
To be more efficient in their work, municipalities will be assisted by the new Administration for the Legalization of Illegal Buildings, which will be responsible for buildings larger than 500 square meters, and its work, which will be supervised by the Ministry of Urban Planning, will require between 300 and 350 thousand euros.
"The deadline for forming the administration is 120 days from the date of entry into force of the new law on the legalization of illegal buildings. The most important thing for us are lawyers," says Ražnatović.
How many employees will the management have?
“At the moment 14,” he replies.
However, Ražnatović also suggests to large builders that they should not wait for the formation of the Administration, but rather submit a request to local self-government units, which will subsequently forward it to the Administration. Finally, Slaven Radunović's department believes that this Law should lead to a decision on legalization being ready within a month and a half from the date of submission of the request.
If illegal builders do not do this within six months, their buildings will be demolished, and they will be fined heavily - companies from one thousand to 40 thousand euros, and citizens from 500 to 4 thousand euros.
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