Nearly 1,800 Cyprus planning amnesty applications remain pending
Local authorities have yet to process nearly half of applications submitted under Cyprus’ planning amnesty scheme, which closed in June 2025.
Nicosia, Cyprus. Thousands of property owners remain caught in administrative delays a year after the government’s planning amnesty scheme closed, with local authorities yet to process nearly half of the applications submitted.
The scheme was intended to legalise small-scale planning violations, enable owners to obtain title deeds and raise funds for social housing.
Applications and violations
The scheme closed on 23 June 2025 and covered unauthorised additions and building-code violations carried out before 13 September 2024.
A total of 2,638 applications were submitted across Cyprus. Residential properties accounted for 2,495 applications, or 88 per cent, followed by commercial developments with 155 applications, or 5.5 per cent, office spaces with 57, or 2 per cent, and entertainment or catering venues with 55, or 1.9 per cent.
Authorities still have 1,791 applications pending, representing 48 per cent of the total.
The violations mainly concern additions and alterations that increased building density, as well as smaller breaches involving pergolas, covered verandas, reduced boundary distances and excess coverage ratios, height limits or floor counts.
District workloads
The Nicosia District Local Governance Organisation (EOA) received the highest number of applications, with 979 files, or 37 per cent of the total.
Limassol received 712 applications, or 27 per cent, followed by Paphos with 484, or 18.3 per cent; Larnaca with 301, or 11.5 per cent; and Famagusta with 162, or 6.2 per cent.
Official response letters sent by the five EOAs to the Ministry of Interior show significant differences in processing rates.
Nicosia progress and Limassol delays
Nicosia EOA, despite receiving the largest number of applications, has processed 611 cases, or 62 per cent of its files. It has committed in writing to clear its remaining 368 applications by the end of 2026.
The organisation said it made progress despite understaffing and incomplete personnel training, while also handling extensive responsibilities assigned by the Interior Ministry and the Town Planning Department.
Limassol EOA said it did not prioritise amnesty applications, instead focusing on new development projects and applications submitted before July 2024 to support economic growth.
It said it will begin reviewing its 686 pending files in September 2026, after recruiting temporary staff to establish a joint planning and building consent team.
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