The investor, who was labeled a symbol of illegal construction in Podgorica a few years ago, has almost completed the Lamelo C building in Zabjelo, although the Ministry of Spatial Planning has a demolition order for the building. The company "PS Gradnja" has filed a request for legalization, and the case is currently before the Administrative Court. The new Law on Legalization allows the building to obtain legal status if it meets the requirements. While the court proceedings are ongoing, the facade works on the building are being completed, and the investor is waiting for the state to formalize what has already been built in practice.
As if he knew that he would eventually defeat the state and its laws, the investor, instead of demolishing it, almost completed Lamela C. While disputes were being fought and removal orders were being issued, the building on Zabjelo in Podgorica grew floor by floor - a few more finesses, and it was ready for occupancy.
Lamela C in Zabjelo, a building that inspections have labeled as illegal, is now waiting for a new opportunity. The investor "PS Gradnja" filed a request for legalization back in 2021, and the latest decision dates back to May of this year. The case is now before the Administrative Court.
"The party 'PS Gradnja' has filed a request for the legalization of the illegal building. Several decisions have been made, and the case files are currently with the Administrative Court upon the party's lawsuit," said the Secretariat for Spatial Planning and Sustainable Development of Podgorica.
Despite a demolition order issued by the Ministry of Spatial Planning in January last year, only the attic was demolished. The new Law on Legalization opened the door for this section as well.
"If Lamela C meets the general and additional conditions for legalization - that it is recorded on a satellite image from July 2025, registered in the cadastre, and that property-legal relations have been resolved - it will be legalized. By initiating the procedure, the demolition decision is also suspended," the Ministry of Spatial Planning, Urbanism and State Property said.
In other words, illegal construction is awaiting the state's stamp. Although the investor has been convicted, the 30 euro fine and a year in prison for the company's owner, Dejan Petričević, will not change the status of the building, because the criminal proceedings do not relate to the demolition itself.
"The verdict against 'PS Gradnja' and Dejan Petričević was pronounced on September 24, 2025. The temporary measure prohibiting demolition is still valid and will be in force until the completion of the civil proceedings, which are being conducted for disturbance of property, not legalization," the Basic Court in Podgorica said.
While the courts decide, the facade of the building is being finished. The inspection is silent because the court injunction prevents intervention. The government has already announced that all buildings built before the satellite survey will be given the opportunity to be legalized. Minister Slaven Radunović claims that this law sends a message that there will be no more illegal construction. Lamela C thus reaffirms the old rule of Montenegrin urbanism - everything that is built, sooner or later becomes legal. In a country where demolition is rare and legalization is certain, concrete remains the most stubborn form of power.
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