"The Regulation Amending the Zoning Regulation for Planned Areas" ("Regulation") was published in the Official Gazette dated 31 December 2022 and numbered 32060 and entered into force simultaneously. The important amendments that were introduced by the Regulation are as follows:

  • Provisional Article 5, which was introduced in the previous months and regulates the conversion of zones that were functioning as "Commercial + Residential" to residential units, has been amended.

Accordingly, office areas zoned as "Commercial" or "Central Business Areas" prior to 31 October 2022 can also be converted into residential units if their plan notes allow for the construction of residential units or residences.

  • When more than one building is located on a parcel of land, if one of the buildings was not constructed in compliance with the underlying construction license, an occupancy permit could be issued for the other buildings over such parcel provided that all of the buildings on the parcel had construction licenses.

It is no longer necessary for all buildings to have a construction license in order to issue an occupancy permit for one of the buildings on the parcel. Instead of the construction license, it will be sufficient to hold a building registration certificate.

  • For buildings with a building registration certificate, a solar energy system can also be installed without being subject to the construction license requirement on the condition that the condominium owners' consent is obtained.
  • Prior to 31 December 2022, mandatory underground parking areas were only allowed to be built in a space up to half of the front area, provided that the parking lot did not approach the parcel border by more than 3 meters. Now, building a non-mandatory underground parking area in the entirety of the front area is allowed, subject to the same conditions.
  • In addition, an area of a building that is twice as big as the mandatory parking area will not be included in the calculation of the construction co-efficiency.
  • Stairs can be built from the ground or basement floors of the adjacent buildings' common areas to the rear of the building.
  • Earthquake insulation floors built in accordance with the Turkish Building Earthquake Regulation and certain parts of load-bearing masonry stone walls in buildings containing traditional architectural elements are exempt from the calculation of the construction co-efficiency.