The government has introduced expedited planning permission procedures for buildings damaged in the July wildfire in Limassol, the Interior Ministry announced Thursday.
The new framework accelerates licensing processes to provide immediate support to affected residents and enable reconstruction to begin without delays, according to a ministry circular.
The measures establish special provisions for issuing planning permits to facilitate restoration of buildings whose owners are entitled to state support under a Council of Ministers decision dated 30 July 2025.
Special development orders expedite reconstruction for licensed buildings
For buildings that already hold planning permission, building permits or approval certificates, regardless of location within or outside development boundaries, authorities will issue special development orders.
This mechanism treats planning permission as granted, accelerating repair procedures for licensed structures affected by the wildfire.
However, existing buildings that never secured planning permission or building permits, or where related applications were rejected, cannot benefit from deemed permission status under the new framework.
Planning authorities—the Limassol District Local Government Organisation and the Town Planning Department—must examine applications within 20 working days of submission for unauthorised constructions or licensed buildings with unauthorised additions.
Applications can be submitted using standard forms without requiring surveying plans or title deeds, as this data will be obtained directly from the Land Registry Portal and Central Information Repository.
Financial support reaches 95% completion for affected homeowners
The Interior Ministry reported that one-off assistance payments for primary residences have been completed for 95% of beneficiaries since 19 August 2025, with only 10 cases pending additional documentation.
Rental subsidies for affected families have commenced, with 85 of 115 submitted applications processed and paid. Remaining payments are expected in beneficiaries’ accounts within 24 hours. Subsidies are paid quarterly in advance.
The Cyprus Scientific and Technical Chamber has completed 615 technical damage assessments from 718 requests concerning partially or totally destroyed buildings. Compensation calculations are based on current market values.
Read more: