A real-life path through bureaucracy — and how it compares to other European cities

In Bucharest, any project — whether it’s extending your house, building a small office block or simply putting up a fence — quickly turns into a test of endurance. The building permit process is, on paper, supposed to take 30 days. In reality, it often drags on for three to eight months. Sometimes even longer.

How it’s supposed to work — in theory

Everything starts with the urban planning certificate, the document that defines what can and cannot be built on a particular plot of land: height limits, land use, building setbacks, and which approvals are required. Then comes the technical project (architecture, structure, installations), followed by collecting all the permits listed in the certificate — from the Environmental Agency, Fire Department, Public Health Authority, Traffic Police, utilities, and so on.

Once the file is complete, it is submitted to the local authority, which legally has 30 days to issue the building permit.

That’s the theory. The reality becomes complicated the moment the first form is filed.

Why it takes so long

The first delay usually appears right at the start: the file is incomplete. When you receive the urban certificate, you’re given a list of required permits from various institutions — each with its own procedures, schedule, and waiting times. Each individual permit can take between 10 and 30 days to obtain. Some can be processed in parallel, others must be done sequentially, one depending on another.

To make matters worse, Bucharest’s administrative system is fragmented. Building permits can be issued either by the City Hall or one of the six district halls, depending on location. A small project might fall under the district’s jurisdiction, but if it’s within a protected zone or near a historic monument, it must go through the central City Hall. A single street-number change can move your application from one authority to another.

Then there are the new requirements added in recent years: nZEB energy-efficiency studies, environmental impact reports, safety assessments, 3D models — all relevant, but piled on top of an already slow system.

And above all looms the same chronic issue: partial digitalization. Many institutions now have websites, but most still require in-person submissions, physical stamps and original signatures. The notorious “paper file with metal clips” has survived the digital age — only now it costs more.

Bucharest in the European mirror

Compared to other European capitals, Bucharest remains an outlier. Studies consistently place Romania among the countries with the most complex and time-consuming building-permit procedures. While cities like Copenhagen, Vienna or Madrid can issue a permit in 30 to 60 days, in Bucharest the process routinely exceeds 180.

The difference isn’t just about staffing or workload — it’s about system design. In Western Europe, most cities use a single online platform for all construction permits, with mandatory time limits and digital traceability. In Bucharest, paperwork still moves physically between departments, with little accountability or transparency.

Ask a public servant why it takes so long and you’ll hear a mix of familiar answers: “The law is ambiguous.” “We’re waiting for another department’s approval.” “We don’t have enough specialists.” “The regulations keep changing.” They’re all true — and together they form the bureaucratic maze where time evaporates.

What you can realistically do as an applicant

There are no shortcuts, but there are ways to manage the process better. The only real strategy is to anticipate and stay proactive. Start collecting permits as soon as you receive your urban certificate. Work with an architect experienced in local procedures. Track the status of each permit daily and respond quickly to additional requests from the authorities.

It’s often faster to ask for written clarifications before submitting your file than to correct a rejected one later. Collaboration between architect, engineer and client can make the difference between one month and half a year.

Conclusion

In Bucharest, obtaining a building permit is not a mere administrative formality — it’s a rite of passage into the city’s bureaucratic culture. A process that demands patience, discipline and adaptability.

Comparing it to other European capitals is instructive, but not enough. Where systems are digital and responsibilities are clear, time doesn’t get lost between desks. In Bucharest, time still gets lost between institutions.

Real change will come only when we replace paper with transparency, and the physical signature with accountability. Until then, the building permit remains a distinctly Bucharest-style adventure — simple in theory, unpredictable in practice.

Sources

• cad-on.ro – Etape în obținerea autorizației de construcție pe înțelesul tuturor
• habitatbrokers.ro – Pași pentru obținerea autorizației de construire în București și Ilfov
• expertizamlpatcadastru.ro – Autorizatie de construire – ghid practic
• whichlawyer.ro – How EU energy-efficiency rules impact the construction-permit process in Romania
• buildecon.blog – Dealing with construction permits in Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania
• researchgate.net – Comparative study on building-permit processes in Europe
• Doing Business Subnational – Bucharest profile
• Clifford Chance (2025) – Simplified measures for the construction permitting process in Romania