- Published: 04.09.2025.
Three key act proposals on physical planning, construction and energy efficiency open for public consultation
The Ministry of Physical Planning, Construction and State Assets has opened public consultation for three important line act proposals: the Physical Planning Act, the Building Act and the Act on Energy Efficiency in Building Construction.
Physical Planning Act - modernisation of spatial planning and strengthening of sustainable development
The new Physical Planning Act improves the physical planning system by introducing expert surveys necessary before developing spatial plans and for ensuring quality planning solutions. The new legal solution introduces a new physical planning system which entails developing plans digitally via the ePlans Editor platform and thus consolidates planning across the Republic of Croatia.
The new legal solution entails a comprehensive reform of the spatial planning system through the following key changes:
- Introducing expert surveys necessary before developing spatial plans and for ensuring quality planning solutions.
- Digitising the process via the ePlans platform - it enables uniform rules and spatial plan development methods across the Republic of Croatia and the introduction of the BIM model.
- Greater jurisdiction of local self-government units over space management.
- Improving the maritime domain spatial planning.
- Simplifying and accelerating the procedure for projects realised as urban and infrastructural development plans - it enables consolidating various administrative procedures from different fields (spatial planning, environmental protection, issuing location permits).
- Urban and architectural tenders ensure space quality with clear timeframes and conditions that guarantee the efficiency and legal certainty of the tendering procedure.
- New condominium conversion regulation - condominium conversion is not possible for areas planned as a catering and tourism zone.
- Legal framework for a more efficient realisation of construction works for affordable housing purposes.
- New content of spatial plans which entails, as mandatory content, spoil tip locations, waste management infrastructure, energy and other infrastructure and other environmental protection elements.
With the aim of establishing clearer and more efficient rules on construction and energy efficiency in building construction, and since the existing Building Act thoroughly addresses only one of the fundamental construction requirements, the new legislative framework is divided into two acts:
- the Building Act - it no longer entails building energy efficiency matters
- the Act on Energy Efficiency in Building Construction - it separately regulates all matters relating to energy savings in buildings
Building Act - procedure simplification and digital transformation
The suggested Building Act introduces a series of novelties that increase efficiency and transparency of the construction system:
- Separation of energy matters into a separate act and redefinition of eight fundamental construction requirements, in accordance with the European Regulation 2024/3110.
- New construction work classification (less-complex buildings, multiapartment blocks and other construction works), with simplified procedures for obtaining building and use permits.
- Introduction of the BIM model (Building Information Modelling) - it enables digital planning, construction and construction work management.
- Electronic issuance of special requirements and connection requirements through the ePermit system which is initiated by the designers themselves without the involvement of the construction authority and including liability for administrative offences of public law bodies in case of non-compliance.
- Obligation to conduct an inspection prior to issuing a building permit.
- Obligation to develop a maintenance plan for buildings and other construction works prior to issuing a use permit.
- Specification of requirements for officials who conduct and sign administrative procedures.
Act on Energy Efficiency in Building Construction - decarbonisation and green standards
The new Act governs the field of energy efficiency in building construction, focusing on:
- Improving energy properties of new buildings and buildings under reconstruction.
- Compliance with fundamental construction requirements referring to health, environment and sustainability.
- Transposition of regulations on energy properties of buildings into national legislation - application of the EU acquis.
- Defining the National Building Reconstruction Plan.
- Energy performance certification system, energy efficiency measures and energy savings.
- Regulation of energy service activities in building construction.
- Introduction of zero-emission buildings.
Public consultation on act proposals is carried out through the eConsultation portal from September 4 to October 4, 2025.
The Ministry calls upon interested parties and professional public to actively participate in the public discussion and to submit remarks, suggestions and opinions about the suggested legal proposals.
The act proposals are available through the eConsultation portal by clicking the following links: