1. Entry into force
G.E.O. No. 31/2025 on certain measures for the simplification of procedures in the field of urban planning and construction and for accelerating investments (“G.E.O. No. 31/2025“) entered into force on the date of its publication in the Official Gazette no. 393, i.e., 30 April 2025. However, the provisions on administrative sanctions will enter into force 30 days after publication.
2. The purpose of the normative act
The Government of Romania adopted G.E.O. No. 31/2025 with the aim of unblocking investments and accelerating the implementation of public and private projects. The measures support the commitments made under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) and aim to eliminate administrative bottlenecks affecting the approval process and the issuance of construction permits.
3. The main provisions of G.E.O. no. 31/2025
• Clear and limited deadlines for the issuance of approvals and permits: public authorities are required to issue approvals within 15–30 days, depending on the authority’s specificity;
• Staged approval is prohibited: all approvals must be requested simultaneously, and project designers must integrate all conditions;
• The enshrinement of the tacit approval principle: in the absence of a response within the legal deadlines, approvals and permits will be deemed granted, except those related to defence, public order, and national security;
• Limiting possible abuses of public authorities: the request for additional documents not provided for in the legal methodologies is prohibited, as is charging additional fees for the reassessment of modified documentation;
• The extended validity of approvals and permits: approvals and permits will remain valid until the completion of the works for which they were issued;
• The simplification of urban planning approvals: clear deadlines are set for submitting documentation to technical committees and for issuing the planning opinion;
• Sanctions for non-compliance with procedures: administrative fines ranging from RON 3,000 (approx. EUR 600) to RON 10,000 (approx. EUR 2,000) for delays in submitting documentation to committees, for failure to justify rejections, or for failure to issue approvals or permits on time;
• Additional obligations for approving institutions: electronic communication of approvals and permits on the date of their issuance;
• The stability (i.e., retention) of the file manager (i.e., designated clerk) throughout the review period (with certain exceptions);
• An extended applicability: the provisions of G.E.O. No. 31/2025 will also apply to case files under approval/authorization at the time the emergency ordinance enters into force.
4. Brief conclusion
G.E.O. No. 31/2025 represents a significant step towards the debureaucratization of administrative processes in the field of construction and urban planning. Public and private stakeholders involved in real estate investments are encouraged to take advantage of these provisions in order to speed up project implementation, while complying with the new deadlines and obligations.
The attorneys at Leroy și Asociații specialized in urban planning and construction law can provide the necessary assistance for this purpose.
