Owners of illegally constructed buildings that have not yet been entered into Montenegro’s real-estate cadastre must begin the registration process by 14 August 2026, following an extension of the deadline by six months due to insufficient administrative and surveying capacity. The deadline applies specifically to cadastral registration and does not represent the completion date for the entire legalisation procedure.
Buildings that have already been registered as illegal properties are not subject to the same registration requirement, but their owners must still complete the legalisation process to achieve full certainty for property transactions.
Registration requirement affects unregistered illegal buildings
The extended deadline was introduced after authorities determined that available administrative and surveying resources were insufficient to complete the original schedule. Owners who fail to initiate registration by the deadline may face a removal order and restrictions preventing the property from being legally sold, mortgaged or used for commercial purposes. The requirement is particularly relevant in coastal areas, where many properties include historical extensions, converted residential units and tourism-related facilities that do not fully correspond with approved construction plans.
Property market divided by legal status
The new framework is creating a distinction between properties with legally secure documentation and those facing unresolved administrative procedures. Buildings with clear legal status are expected to have easier access to conventional bank financing and notarial property transfers, while properties outside the process may face difficulties in financing and transactions. Purchasers of apartments, hotels and development land will need to verify the legal status of all structures located on a parcel rather than relying only on ownership records for the underlying land.
