Fire in the mountains of Limassol revealed widespread violations in building permits

As a result of a recent fire in the mountainous areas of Limassol, it was found that only about 40% of the affected buildings had valid building permits. These data are reported by the Limassol Local Government Organization following the inspection of 710 damaged properties.

According to official information, fully verified permits existed for only 293 buildings. In 104 cases, the properties were constructed without any authorization documents. For another 221 buildings, the necessary documentation could not be found or permits could not be identified. For 49 buildings, only urban planning approvals were identified, but the actual building permits were missing.

The inspection showed that the level of illegal construction significantly exceeds the initial estimates of local authorities. The mayor of the Kourio district previously believed that the share of unauthorized constructions did not exceed 20–30%, but the actual number may be higher, as the investigation continues.

The exact situation regarding permits directly affects the receipt of state compensation. Owners of fully legal properties can expect reimbursement for all incurred losses. If documents are missing, compensation will amount to only 25% of the damage. Currently, it has been established that about 60% of affected buildings do not have a complete set of permit documents.

For property owners, this means the need for careful verification and timely processing of all documents. In the event of emergencies, such as natural disasters or fires, having official permits becomes a key factor for receiving support and protecting rights.