Urban Planning Lawyer in Romania. What Is the National One-Stop Shop and Why Was It Introduced?

The new Spatial Planning, Urbanism and Construction Code (CATUC) in Romania, adopted by Law no. 169/2026, entered into force on 25 August 2026 and replaced the previous legislative framework, represented, among others, by Law no. 350/2001 and Law no. 50/1991, which were repealed. One of the main objectives of the new Code is to simplify and digitalise the procedures for obtaining endorsements, approvals and authorisations in the field of urban planning and construction in Romania.

Among the significant changes introduced by CATUC in Romania is the digitalisation of the procedures for obtaining approvals and authorising construction works. This process will be facilitated through the National Platform for Urban and Territorial Planning and Construction Authorisation. Within this framework, the Code regulates the National Urban Planning Geoportal and the National One-Stop Shop, tools designed to digitalise the interaction between applicants and public authorities in Romania.

However, the National One-Stop Shop will not become fully operational immediately. According to CATUC, its implementation will take place gradually over a period of 5 years from the publication of the Code, as urban planning documentation is progressively integrated into the platform.

Although the National One-Stop Shop and the National Urban Planning Geoportal may streamline the process in Romania, a legal assessment carried out by a lawyer specialised in real estate law in Romania can help prevent risks related to delays or blockages affecting an investment project.

For investors in Romania, involving a lawyer specialised in real estate and urban planning law before initiating the authorisation procedure may be particularly useful, especially in the case of complex projects. The mere existence of a property right does not, in itself, mean that the envisaged project can be developed under the conditions intended by the investor.

In this context, Pavel, Mărgărit and Associates Romanian Law Firm can provide legal assistance in assessing the legal and urban planning status of a property in Romania, reviewing the documentation required for obtaining the necessary authorisations, and identifying any restrictions or legal risks that could affect the development of the project, thereby contributing to the proper preparation of the investment before initiating the relevant procedures through the National One-Stop Shop.

Urban Planning Lawyer in Romania. Review of Documentation for the Authorisation of Construction Works

Article 139 para. (1) of the Urban Planning Code defines the National One-Stop Shop in Romania as the digital platform of national public interest intended to facilitate the relationship between applicants and the competent public administration authorities, as well as the administrative processing of applications concerning spatial and urban planning documentation and applications related to the authorisation of construction works in Romania.

According to Article 139 para. (3) of CATUC, the National One-Stop Shop is designed to enable applicants and the competent public administration authorities to:

• submit and receive the documentation required for issuing documents concerning information on spatial planning and urban planning documentation;
• submit and receive the documentation required for issuing documents concerning the authorisation of construction works;
• communicate directly regarding any clarifications and/or amendments required in relation to the submitted documentation;
• arrange consultations regarding the documents, information and additional materials required for the issuance of a building permit in Romania;
• issue and receive a building permit or demolition permit.

Until the entry into force of the new Code, Law no. 50/1991 represented the main legislative framework governing the authorisation of construction works in Romania, regulating the procedure for issuing building and demolition permits. As of 25 August 2026, Law no. 50/1991 was repealed, and this area is now regulated by CATUC.

An urban planning lawyer in Romania can provide legal assistance in reviewing urban planning documentation and the documentation required for obtaining construction authorisations before it is submitted to the competent authority. In this way, the risk of potential delays or procedural obstacles may be reduced, which may represent an important advantage for a real estate developer in Romania.

An urban planning lawyer in Romania may also provide legal assistance in handling requests for clarifications and supplementary documents and may represent the applicant before the competent authorities. In the event of an unjustified refusal or failure to resolve, within the statutory deadline, an application for the issuance of a building permit or demolition permit, a lawyer specialised in real estate law in Romania may provide the necessary legal assistance and representation.

For projects that were already underway on the date CATUC entered into force, the transitional regime must be assessed separately, depending on the stage reached by the relevant procedure. Article 582 expressly provides that procedures for the preparation, endorsement and approval of urban planning and spatial planning documentation initiated before the entry into force of the Code remain subject to the legal provisions applicable on the date on which those procedures were initiated.

Other situations concerning construction authorisation in Romania must be assessed in light of the acts already issued and the specific procedural stage reached.

Who Will Have Access to the National One-Stop Shop in Romania? Lawyers Among the Professionals Provided for by the Code

The inclusion of lawyers among the professionals who may have access to the National One-Stop Shop in Romania may facilitate the provision of legal assistance in urban planning and construction authorisation procedures, particularly in complex real estate projects involving interaction with several public authorities and the review of a significant number of documents, approvals and legal requirements.

Access to the National One-Stop Shop is granted through authentication based on a username and password or an access code generated by the application, using secure and differentiated access levels.

The Code provides access for:

• authorities and institutions of the central public administration;
• authorities and institutions of the local public administration;
• institutions and entities managing databases of public interest, including technical and utility network operators;
• professionals involved in preparing spatial planning and urban planning strategies and plans;
• professionals preparing public and private investment projects, certified or registered in national professional registers;
• lawyers, notaries public, bailiffs and insolvency practitioners;
• citizens.

The express inclusion of lawyers among the categories of professionals with access to the platform does not mean that the assistance of a lawyer in Romania becomes mandatory in the construction authorisation procedure. However, for real estate projects with a complex legal or urban planning component, the involvement of an urban planning or real estate lawyer in Romania may facilitate the management of the documentation and the relationship with the competent authorities and may contribute to the early identification of potential legal risks.

“The digitalisation of procedures may simplify the interaction with public authorities in Romania; however, it does not eliminate the need to verify the legal and urban planning status of the investment, the documentation submitted, and compliance with the procedures and deadlines provided by law,” stated Dr. Radu Pavel, Managing Partner of Pavel, Mărgărit and Associates Romanian Law Firm.

Are You Facing Challenges in the Authorisation Procedure for a Real Estate Project in Romania?

Pavel, Mărgărit and Associates Romanian Law Firm can assist with reviewing the documentation, managing the relationship with the competent authorities and identifying legal risks that may delay a real estate investment in Romania.

Do not navigate these challenges alone. Contact us today for expert legal assistance tailored to your needs.

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5 Years Until Full Digitalisation: When Will the National One-Stop Shop Become Mandatory in Romania?

The new Spatial Planning, Urbanism and Construction Code (CATUC), adopted by Law no. 169/2026, introduces an important change in the field of urban planning and the authorisation of construction works in Romania: the gradual digitalisation of procedures through the National One-Stop Shop.

According to Article 139 para. (8) of CATUC, the National One-Stop Shop will become operational gradually over a period of 5 years from the date of publication of the Code, as the general urban plans and the corresponding local urban planning regulations of the administrative-territorial units are integrated into the platform in GIS format. As Law no. 169/2026 was published in the Official Gazette of Romania on 10 August 2026, the 5-year period will expire on 10 August 2031.

Upon expiry of this period, the use of the National One-Stop Shop in Romania will become mandatory for all public administration authorities and entities responsible for issuing endorsements and approvals, including where the integration of urban planning documentation in GIS format has not yet been completed. Information that is not available on the platform will be added subsequently, as it is digitalised. Therefore, the 5-year deadline marks the point from which the use of the National One-Stop Shop becomes mandatory, without necessarily meaning that the digitalisation of all documentation will be fully completed by that date.

Until the platform becomes operational for the relevant procedures, the Code allows administrative procedures to continue to be carried out in accordance with the methods applicable during the transitional period. Therefore, digitalisation will not occur immediately upon the entry into force of the new Code, but will involve a gradual implementation process.

Article 139 para. (8) of CATUC provides that the National One-Stop Shop will become operational gradually over a period of 5 years from the date of publication of the Code, as the general urban plans and the corresponding local urban planning regulations of the administrative-territorial units are integrated into the platform in GIS format.

Urban Planning Lawyer in Romania. What Does Digitalisation Mean for Investors and Developers?

For investors and real estate developers in Romania, the digitalisation of procedures may simplify interaction with public authorities and facilitate the submission of documentation required for authorisation, requests for clarifications and the management of administrative stages. However, digitalisation does not eliminate the obligation to comply with legal requirements or the importance of properly preparing the documentation before initiating the procedure.

An urban planning lawyer in Romania can provide legal assistance with reviewing the documentation required for obtaining authorisations, managing requests for clarifications and supplementary documents, representing the applicant before the competent authorities and resolving potential obstacles arising during the authorisation procedure.

For complex real estate projects in Romania, a lawyer specialised in real estate law can assess, from the initial stage, the legal and urban planning status of the property, the applicable restrictions and any potential risks that may affect the development of the investment. Digitalisation changes the way in which the file is managed and communicated to public authorities, but it does not replace the assessment of the legality and feasibility of the project.

Pavel, Mărgărit and Associates Romanian Law Firm is one of the leading law firms in Romania, providing legal services of the highest professional standards. The law firm’s clients include major multinational and domestic companies. In 2026, the firm’s successful track record brought it international recognition from some of the most prestigious international legal directories and publications. Thus, Pavel, Mărgărit and Associates Romanian Law Firm ranked 3rd in Romania this year among business law firms with the most relevant expertise, according to the ranking published by The Legal 500. The law firm is also internationally recognised by IFLR1000 Financial and Corporate 2026. Furthermore, Pavel, Mărgărit and Associates is the only law firm in Romania recommended by the London-based international directory Global Law Experts in the Dispute Resolution practice area. All relevant information regarding Pavel, Mărgărit and Associates Romanian Law Firm is available on the www.avocatpavel.com website.