Building Permits for Prefabricated Buildings: How Does the Licensing Process Work?

A prefabricated building is a permanent building and is subject to building regulations. Because this is one of the questions we are asked most often, we explain the process from start to finish, with which document is needed when. Practice may differ from one municipality to another; what is written here is the general framework of Building Law No. 3194 and the Planned Areas Building Regulation.

Does a prefabricated building need a permit?

Yes. Article 21 of the Building Law requires a building licence from the municipality or governorate for all buildings covered by the law. Being produced at a factory and assembled on site does not take a building out of the licence scope; prefabricated, light steel and reinforced concrete buildings are subject to the same provision in this respect.

Cases where no licence is required

Article 27 of the same law exempts certain buildings in village settlement areas and outside municipal boundaries from the licence; for these, permission is obtained from the village headman and compliance with technical and health rules is required. Temporary structures used during construction and some agricultural buildings are assessed separately. The authority where the plot is located decides which exemption applies.

The difference between a container and a prefabricated building

Containers used temporarily on a construction site are treated as temporary structures limited to the construction period and are generally not tied to a building licence; they are expected to be removed when construction ends. If the same container is to be used as a permanent home or workplace, it counts as a permanent building and a licence is required. What matters is not the name of the product but the purpose and duration of use.

The process step by step

• Zoning status document: The land-use decision in the zoning plan, the building coefficients (TAKS, KAKS), the number of storeys and the setback distances are obtained from the municipality. A prefabricated building also complies with these limits.
• Soil survey: Even though the building is light, the soil report is part of the licence file; it determines the foundation type.
• Architectural design: Floor plans, elevations and sections are prepared by an architect. If the module dimensions of the prefabricated system are built into the design from the start, production and design match.
• Structural design: The light steel or prefabricated structural system is calculated by a civil engineer according to the current Turkish Building Earthquake Code. As the manufacturer, we provide the system details and material certificates at this stage.
• Mechanical and electrical designs: The services designs are prepared by the relevant engineers; since most of the services in a prefabricated building are installed at the factory, the design and production must be consistent.
• Licence application: The application is made to the municipality with the title deed, zoning status, designs, soil report, building inspection contract and fee receipts. Building inspection is mandatory.
• Occupancy permit: When assembly is complete, the occupancy application is made; if the building complies with the design, the occupancy permit is issued.

How long does it take?

If the documents are complete and the designs comply, the licence stage usually takes a few weeks; the regulation gives the authority a short review period for complete applications. In practice, most time is lost on the zoning status and the soil survey. Because the licence process can run in parallel with production at the factory, in a prefabricated building the licence does not extend the delivery schedule as much as it does in reinforced concrete.

The situation in public projects

In public projects such as schools, hospitals and disaster housing, the licence process is carried out by the relevant institution; as the manufacturer, we provide the structural system, material documents and assembly plan. The two hospitals in Hatay and the schools in Tokat and Manisa were completed under this arrangement.

Checklist before you start

• Has the zoning status of the plot been obtained, and is the building right sufficient?
• Is the use permanent or temporary? The answer determines whether a licence is needed.
• Has a soil survey been carried out?
• Are the architectural and structural designs consistent with the module dimensions of the prefabricated system?
• Has a building inspection company been selected?

We fill in this list together at the pre-licence meeting; we recommend consulting the relevant municipality before starting the project. Sources: Building Law No. 3194 (articles 21, 26, 27); Planned Areas Building Regulation; Turkish Building Earthquake Code 2018.