According to data from Montenegro’s Ministry of Spatial Planning, Urbanism and State Property, Podgorica has submitted the highest number of legalization requests — 14,185 — followed by Bar (10,384), Herceg Novi (5,520), Budva (5,302), and Ulcinj (5,060). The fewest requests were filed in Šavnik (54), Plužine (66), Petnjica (63), and Andrijevica (105).
Since the adoption of the first legalization law in 2018, 62,495 illegal structures have been registered in Montenegro, but only 3,589 were legalized by the end of June 2025. Podgorica leads with 670 legalized buildings, while Zeta recorded only one.
Of the €12.2 million in assessed communal fees, €10.97 million has been collected, with Podgorica accounting for €4.05 million — the highest amount — and Šavnik the lowest, just €227.
The ministry noted that the next update on legalization statistics will be published in January 2026, reflecting progress under the new Law on Legalization, which came into effect on August 14, 2025.
Under the new law, municipalities are responsible for legalizing buildings up to 500 square meters, while the newly established State Legalization Authority will handle larger, protected, and tourism-related structures. The government has 120 days to form this agency.
Citizens have six months to submit requests for property registration, and municipalities must establish records of illegal buildings within the same period. The law introduces satellite and aerial imaging as the new legal basis for verification, replacing older ortho-photo methods.
Legalization will be allowed only for structures outside protected zones or public infrastructure areas. The law also forbids registering buildings in the cadastre that are not visible on satellite imagery, aiming to prevent future illegal construction.
Owners must apply for legalization within six months of the law’s entry into force or face demolition orders. For buildings already in the process, municipalities will automatically renew the cases under the new law if it is more favorable for the applicant.
