Re: building permits in Czechia, when you need one and when you don't
No permit for a 40 m² shed. Always one for a garage.
Czech building law has exact limits hidden in its annexes, and most people never read them. Four steps show what applies to your building, who has to give an opinion and how long your office really takes.
For building in Czechia only. Offices work in Czech, so we keep the official Czech terms in brackets.
Č. j. UKÁZKA/2026
Assessment result
- Project
- family house, 2 floors and attic
- Place
- Tábor
- Office
- MěÚ Tábor, median 113 days
- Who gives opinions
- environment department, network owners
What you may build without a permit, and what not
A selection from Annexes 1 and 2 of the Czech Building Act. Click a row and the guide takes you through the rest.
Same house. In Třinec you wait 78 days for the permit, in Prague 6 150.
Median for building permits, Ministry for Regional Development data as of 30 April 2026. Offices differ by up to twice as much. Find your office.
How the guide works
First you pick what you are building and enter its size. You see straight away whether it is a minor building, a simple building or a standard permit, with the paragraph of the law.
Then you tick what applies to your plot: heritage zone, protected landscape, flood zone, networks. Each item links to where you can check it.
Next you find your building office and see how long procedures there actually take.
Finally you get your own plan with a task list and a time estimate. Every task explains how to do it, step by step.
What people ask
Do I need a building permit for a family house in Czechia?
Yes. But a house with at most two floors above ground, one below and an attic is a simple building (jednoduchá stavba, Annex 2 of the Building Act). The office has 30 days to decide, and you need an occupancy decision (kolaudační rozhodnutí) before moving in.
What can I build without a permit?
Minor buildings (drobné stavby) from Annex 1. For example a shed or workshop up to 40 m² and 5 m next to your house, if it stands 2 m from the boundary and half the plot still soaks up rain. Also a fence up to 2 m between plots, a pool or greenhouse up to 40 m² and solar panels on the roof up to 100 kW.
How long does a building permit take?
The procedure at the office itself has a median of 74 days, according to ministry data. The whole way, including design and statements from authorities and network owners, usually takes six months to a year, according to a survey by the Czech Chamber of Engineers.
Do I have to deal with the office in Czech?
Yes. Applications, documentation and decisions are in Czech. This guide keeps the official Czech terms in brackets so you can find them on forms and ask for them by name. A Czech-speaking designer can handle most of the contact for you.
Is this legal advice?
No. The guide helps you find your way. Before you build, check everything with a designer or the building office.
Write to us
Did the guide help, is something missing, or did you find a mistake? Write to us, we read everything.