As of today, about 62.5 thousand applications for the legalization of illegally built structures have been submitted in Montenegro, however only about six percent have been resolved, said Nikola Rajnatovic from the Directorate for the Legalization of Unauthorized Structures.
Let us recall that as of August 1, 2025, a new came into force legalization law for unauthorized structures in Montenegro. The document was adopted at the eighth session of the 28th convocation of the Parliament on July 31, 2025, and signed by the president on August 1. Its appearance became an important event for the real estate market, because now the rules of ownership and property transactions will be strictly tied to the availability of permitting documentation.. Документ был принят на восьмой сессии 28-го созыва Скупщины 31 июля 2025 года и подписан президентом 1 августа. Его появление стало важным событием для рынка недвижимости, ведь теперь правила владения и сделок с жильём будут жёстко связаны с наличием разрешительной документации.
What does the new law regulate? The law establishes the procedure for legalizing unauthorized buildings, describes the legal consequences of obtaining permission, and determines which specific structures can be legalized.
As of today, notaries have suspended transactions involving properties with the status “nema dozvole” (no permit). This is due to the new legalization law coming into force. Now selling or renting out real estate without confirmed legalization documents is no longer possible.
Rajnatovic noted that it is difficult to name the exact number of illegal structures in the country. From 2018 to July 2025, 62,495 applications were submitted, of which only 3,589 received a decision — which is about 6% of the total.
He reminded that satellite images of the structures have already been presented to the public, and a control survey is planned for next year. The base image recorded in July will not be changed. All structures built after July 2025 without permission will not be able to be registered in the cadastre, and subsequently a demolition decision will be issued for them. If, however, as of July 2025 a structure was identified as a building with an overlap, it may qualify for legalization.
Read also: New law on real estate legalization in Montenegro — what you need to know
The specialist noted, that the department does not have exact data on the number of structures built on state land within Podgorica, since the orthophoto processing is still ongoing and will take about six months.
Rajnatovic explained the procedure in detail: the first step is to register the structure in the cadastre. If it is not registered, it is necessary to prepare a geodetic report on the actual condition of the building, then — with a notarized statement — submit the documents to the territorial cadastral service. After receiving the decision to enter the structure into the cadastre, the owner collects the document package and submits an application for legalization to the local self-government body.
The cost of preparing a geodetic report, according to him, for the initial stage alone exceeds 300 euros.
To submit to the municipality, it is necessary to fill out an application for legalization, attach a certified cadastral report (original or copy), photos of all facades, and an extract from the real estate register. The municipality is obliged to notify the applicant within 15 days about the completeness of the documents. If the file is incomplete, the applicant has 90 days to provide the missing information.
Rajnatovic emphasized that free legalization zones operate in rural areas — urban sanitation plans have been approved in each municipality; all that is needed is to collect the documents and submit them.
On the timing of real estate legalization in Montenegro
According to the expert, such a low percentage of resolved applications is linked to the suspension of work on the General Regulation Plan: in 2021, the then ministry отказался from preparing it, which led to delays in the process.
He added that the law does not set deadlines for the legalization procedure itself, but only establishes a six-month deadline for submitting applications by those owners whose properties are not yet entered in the cadastre. This deadline expires on February 14, however the minister stated at a special session of the Parliament that it will be extended for another six months.
Rajnatovic emphasized that the law is “as simplified as possible” and allows the legalization of any structure that does not threaten public infrastructure.
If you own real estate in Montenegro, that falls under the new legalization law, our specialists can help you understand the procedure. We know which documents are needed, where and by what deadlines to submit them, and what to consider so that the property officially receives legal status. This approach will save you from unnecessary bureaucracy and allow you to sell, rent, or use the property without problems in the future.
You can order a property check here.
For more information, contact us — https://www.montelegal.me/sr Or contact us at +382 67 447 626 (WhatsApp, Telegram)