Notification-based house up to 70 m² – a complete step-by-step guide
Building a house without a permit? A few years ago it sounded like fantasy. Since 2023, Polish legislation allows construction of single-family houses up to 70 m² based solely on notification. This is a huge simplification that shortens formalities from several months to several weeks. But like any simplification – it has its conditions, limitations and pitfalls. In this article, we explain everything you need to know.
What does "notification-based construction" mean?
In the traditional house building process, you need a building permit – an administrative decision issued by the district authority. The procedure takes 30 to 90 days (and in practice can be longer), requires a full construction project and involves many formalities.
Notification-based construction is a simplified path where instead of obtaining a permit, you simply notify the district office of your intention to build. If the office doesn't raise an objection within 21 days, you can start building. Simple? Simple. But under several conditions.
Conditions for building a house up to 70 m² on notification
To use this procedure, the house must meet all of the following conditions simultaneously:
- Built-up area up to 70 m² – note: this is the area measured by the outline of external walls, not usable area! In practice, a house with 70 m² built-up area has approx. 55–65 m² usable area, depending on wall thickness and layout
- Maximum 2 storeys – ground floor + usable attic or first floor
- Detached building – semi-detached or terraced not eligible
- Residential purpose – the house must serve the investor's own residential needs
- One house per plot – only one such house can be notified on a single cadastral plot
Our model: TREEVIA NORD 70
Specifically designed for notification-based construction, we created the TREEVIA NORD 70 – a house with built-up area below 70 m² (69.6 m²), meeting all procedure requirements.
What does NORD 70 offer?
- Spacious living room with kitchen – open day zone with large glazing
- Bedroom – separated, quiet space for rest
- Bathroom – full-size, with washing machine space
- Technical room – for recuperator and heating distribution and installations
- Terrace – natural extension of the day zone
What to watch out for?
- Distance from plot boundary – minimum distance regulations still apply (4 m with windows, 3 m without windows from boundary)
- Ground conditions – lack of a site manager doesn't exempt from checking the ground
- Connections – the notification procedure covers the building itself, but utility connections require separate formalities
- Change of use – if you later want to convert the house to a guesthouse or commercial property, you'll need additional permits
Notification-based construction and mortgage
Good news – banks grant mortgages for notification-based houses. The credit procedure is analogous to traditional construction. Key requirements: cost estimate, schedule and contractor agreement. At Treevia, we prepare documentation compliant with bank requirements, facilitating the credit process.
Summary
Notification-based construction is a real revolution in Polish building industry – less bureaucracy, faster formalities, lower entry threshold. Combined with prefabrication, you get a house that goes from decision to move-in in a few months, not years. If you're considering this path – contact us. We'll help at every stage: from model selection, through formalities, to the keys to your new home.