To date, 699 applications have been filed under the Urban Planning Amnesty Scheme, a program aimed at legalizing minor infractions within approved urban developments.

Launched on September 23, 2024, this initiative will span six months and conclude on March 23, 2025.

As reported by Elikkos Elia, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of the Interior, out of the total applications for amnesty, 616 pertain to housing projects. Speaking with the Cyprus News Agency, Elia shared details regarding the application distribution across Local Government Organizations:

– Nicosia: 219 applications
– Limassol: 215 applications
– Larnaca: 78 applications
– Paphos: 150 applications
– Famagusta: 37 applications

These submissions include a variety of development types:

– 616 residential projects
– 36 commercial projects
– 8 office projects
– 6 industrial and storage projects
– 3 tourism projects
– 3 health-related projects
– 2 sports projects
– 1 welfare project
– 13 leisure and entertainment projects
– 4 agricultural/livestock projects
– 7 miscellaneous projects

Elia urged property investors who are eligible to make use of this amnesty scheme before the deadline, which would allow them to obtain final approvals and secure their property’s title deeds.

He stressed that the primary purpose of the scheme is to legitimize minor urban planning violations, such as exceeding building coefficients or minor regulatory deviations like covered verandas, pergolas, or reduced boundary clearances.

The application procedure is straightforward and can be completed with the aid of private consultants.

The fee for application is directed to the Special Fund of the Cyprus Land Development Corporation, which supports affordable housing projects. Elia underscored that the amnesty initiative aligns with the government’s larger housing strategy, which seeks to tackle housing problems and promote affordability.