Penalties and New Measures Against Illegal Construction
Starting next year, Croatia will introduce an important change:
illegal construction will become a criminal offense. This sends a clear message that the state intends to take a more decisive approach in combating unlicensed builders and put an end to a practice that has created spatial disorder for decades. According to information available on
baustela.hr, penalties for offenders will become significantly stricter, and such acts will no longer be treated merely as misdemeanors but as violations of the criminal code.
This decision arises from the need to finally establish order in the field of spatial planning. For years, Croatia has been facing the problem of uncontrolled
illegal construction, which harms the environment, devalues the worth of legal properties, and undermines citizens’ trust in the system. It is therefore not surprising that additional measures are also being considered. One of them is the proposal to allow municipal wardens to order the
suspension of works at unauthorized construction sites, as further reported by
Istrain.hr.
Although expanding the wardens’ authority could contribute to faster interventions, in practice questions arise about their actual effectiveness. A classic Croatian problem is that wardens often do not want, or dare, to confront certain builders, which allows part of the illegal structures to go unpunished. A model in which wardens only document the situation on the ground, while the final decision on the
suspension of construction would be made by the construction inspectorate in Zagreb, could prove far more effective and transparent.
Such a system would ensure greater objectivity and reduce room for local pressures. A more transparent reporting process would increase citizens’ trust in institutions, as every case would be handled equally, regardless of local ties or political circumstances. The ultimate goal of these measures is clear: to prevent
illegal construction, protect public space, and ensure that all citizens are equal before the law.
