## [1] What Is C.A.T.U.C. and Why Was It Introduced?

Until now, legislation governing spatial planning, urban planning, and construction in Romania was spread across numerous laws, government decisions, and ministerial orders.

C.A.T.U.C. aims to bring these provisions together into a more coherent framework, with the stated objectives of reducing bureaucracy and accelerating investment.

The legislation it replaces includes:

- Law No. 350/2001 – Spatial planning and urbanism
- Law No. 50/1991 – Authorization of construction works
- Law No. 10/1995 – Construction quality (except Articles 10 and 41)
- Order No. 233/2016 – Methodological rules for implementing Law No. 350/2001
- Order No. 839/2009 – Methodological rules for implementing Law No. 50/1991

This does not mean that all related legislation is repealed. Other important regulations remain applicable, at least at this stage, including those governing technical verification and expert assessments, construction acceptance procedures, and state supervision of construction quality.

The following regulations remain in effect:

- Annexes 1–5 to the relevant 1997 Government Decision – Regulations on construction quality, including the classification of buildings by importance category
- Government Decision No. 925/1995 – Regulations on technical verification and expert assessment
- Government Decision No. 273/1994 – Regulations on construction acceptance procedures
- Government Decision No. 492/2018 – Regulations on state supervision of construction quality
- Government Decision No. 203/2003 – Regulations on regulatory activities in construction

In other words, C.A.T.U.C. becomes the central reference point for construction legislation, but it is not the only document that industry professionals need to consult.

## [2] How Is the Spatial Planning, Urbanism and Construction Code Structured?

C.A.T.U.C. is divided into two main books, following a straightforward logic: from territorial organization and urban planning regulations to the construction process itself and the subsequent operation of buildings.

### Book I – Spatial Planning and Urbanism

Part 1 – General provisions on spatial planning and urbanism

Part 2 – Provisions and regulations applicable throughout Romania

Part 3 – Properties and areas subject to special regulations, protected areas, and the protection of historical monuments, archaeological heritage, natural assets, and landscapes

Part 4 – Regulation of urban planning operations

Part 5 – Authorization of construction and demolition works, and applicable sanctions

Part 6 – Administrative litigation provisions specific to spatial planning, urbanism, and construction authorization

In short, this book establishes the conditions and procedures under which land development interventions or construction works may be carried out.

### Book II – Construction

Part 1 – Definition of the scope of application

Part 2 – Construction performance criteria

Part 3 – Roles and responsibilities

Part 4 – Life cycle of a construction investment project

Part 5 – Risk allocation

Part 6 – Materials, products, equipment, systems, and technologies

Part 7 – Sanctions

Part 8 – Transitional and final provisions

One of the key ideas behind this structure is that a construction project is treated as a complete process, rather than simply a permitting and construction phase.

## [3] What Changes Does C.A.T.U.C. Bring to Urban Planning?

### A New Role for the Detailed Urban Plan (PUD)

C.A.T.U.C. more clearly establishes the hierarchy and interconnection of urban planning documents at national, territorial, county, and metropolitan levels.

An important provision appears in Article 82, which defines the PUD as an urban design document, unlike other documents classified as planning instruments. Under certain conditions, it may amend higher-level planning documents, such as the PUZ or PUG.

### Digitalization of Urban Planning Documentation

One of the key elements of the new Code is the digitalization of the planning process.

Under Article 110, urban planning documentation must be uploaded digitally to the National Territorial Observatory, part of the new National Urban Planning and Construction Permitting Platform. The platform's operation is detailed in Articles 134–139.

This change is relevant to both public authorities and designers.

Planning documentation is no longer treated solely as a collection of drawings and documents exchanged between design offices and local authorities, but also as information incorporated into a national digital system.

### Integrated Approvals and the Single Approval Commission

C.A.T.U.C. introduces an integrated approval mechanism through Single Approval Commissions.

These commissions must be established at county councils, county-seat municipalities, and, according to the construction authorization provisions, other municipalities as well. The deadline for their establishment is 60 days, until November 17, 2026.

The Code also regulates a tacit approval mechanism, applicable in certain situations, intended to limit administrative delays caused by a lack of response from approving institutions.

How these mechanisms will function in practice remains to be seen once the new administrative structures become operational.

### Areas Subject to Special Regulations: Which Projects Face Additional Requirements?

C.A.T.U.C. dedicates a separate chapter to areas with special characteristics and provides a clearer classification of these areas.

They include:

- Protected areas;
- Historical monuments included on the World Heritage List;
- Cultural landscapes;
- Protected natural areas;
- The Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve;
- The Black Sea coastal area;
- Mountain regions.

Projects located in these areas may be subject to additional urban planning requirements.

For example, Article 94(4) establishes that a Zonal Urban Plan (PUZ) in protected areas may only be initiated by the local authority.

Consequently, the location of an investment becomes even more important during the initial assessment stage. Before discussing architectural solutions, the urban planning framework governing the proposed development must first be understood.

### Urban Regeneration and Urban Restructuring Explicitly Included in the Code

Article 214 defines urban planning operations and organizes them within a common framework. These include land subdivision, reconfiguration of land parcels, urban regeneration, and urban restructuring.

Urban regeneration and urban restructuring are therefore explicitly incorporated into the new legislative framework.

This is particularly relevant to projects involving more than the construction of a building on vacant land, such as complex interventions within existing urban areas or structures.

### Construction Permitting: What New Procedures Are Introduced?

One of the most significant sections of C.A.T.U.C. concerns the authorization of construction and demolition works.

Rather than introducing a single procedure, the new Code distinguishes more clearly between different situations according to the type and complexity of the work.

Among other changes, it introduces new provisions concerning urban planning certificates, simplified notification-based procedures, works that may be carried out without administrative formalities, and regularization permits.

### Urban Planning Certificate

The urban planning certificate is one of the fundamental documents involved in preparing an investment.

Under C.A.T.U.C., its definition and scope are expanded. Article 253 regulates the urban planning certificate, while the new Code introduces the possibility of using it for cadastral operations and engineering works.

This change is significant because the urban planning certificate should no longer be viewed exclusively in connection with new buildings or construction permits.

Depending on the nature of the intervention, it may also be relevant to land-related operations or works classified as engineering works.

For investors, the first step is therefore not selecting a technical solution or starting construction, but clarifying the legal, economic, and technical conditions governing the land and the proposed intervention.

### Simplified Notification-Based Authorization

C.A.T.U.C. introduces a simplified authorization procedure based on notification, with separate lists of eligible works for locations outside protected areas and within them. These are detailed in Articles 294–298.

Article 294(2) also identifies the categories of buildings eligible for this procedure.

This includes one of the most widely discussed provisions of the law: single-family homes in rural areas with a maximum total floor area of 150 m².

However, the Code clearly specifies that such buildings must comply with applicable regulations and may be constructed exclusively using standardized designs made available by public authorities, developed through design competitions organized in partnership with the Romanian Order of Architects (OAR).

Until these standardized designs become available, documentation prepared by qualified specialist design teams will still be required, as before.

### Works That Do Not Require Administrative Formalities

Article 299 also lists works that may be carried out without administrative formalities, subject to the conditions established by the Code.

The concept itself is not new, but the Code clearly defines the types of interventions that may ordinarily be undertaken without submitting documentation to local authorities.

Nevertheless, these works must still be assessed, designed, and executed by the appropriate specialist teams, in compliance with applicable regulations and technical standards.

### Regularization Permit

For works carried out without a permit or in breach of an existing permit, Article 301 introduces the regularization permit, a separate procedure intended as an alternative to the traditional process of bringing unauthorized construction into legal compliance.

In practice, this permit provides a defined administrative procedure for situations where a building already exists but its legal status needs to be clarified after construction.

The process establishes the modifications required to bring the building into compliance with the applicable urban planning regulations.

This procedure applies only to single-family homes meeting certain criteria, their ancillary buildings, and a limited number of other construction categories.

For one year following the law's entry into force, the procedure may also be requested for other categories of buildings, although the fees charged by authorities will be ten times the standard amount.

## [4] What Does C.A.T.U.C. Change for Construction Projects?

While Book I focuses on spatial planning and permitting, Book II shifts attention to the construction process itself.

### Construction Categories

C.A.T.U.C. distinguishes between different types of works according to their intended use: buildings, engineering works, and land development works.

Buildings are then classified according to their intended service life, which designers must specify. They are also assigned to consequence classes, replacing the former importance categories.

This represents both a change in terminology and a practical change that must be reflected in technical documentation.

### Energy and Environmental Performance as Part of the New Approach

C.A.T.U.C. dedicates a separate section to construction performance criteria.

The Code emphasizes the importance of improving the energy, environmental, and health-related performance of buildings, including reducing resource consumption and maintaining indoor air quality.

From a technical perspective, this is particularly relevant because a building's performance does not depend on a single component. The structural system, building envelope, mechanical and electrical systems, materials, construction details, and execution must all work together to achieve a high-performing building.

A new fundamental requirement is also added to those that every building must meet, focusing on the environmental quality of construction, particularly emissions into the external environment.

### Roles and Responsibilities: Who Is Accountable for the Project?

The new Code provides a more detailed definition of the roles of all participants involved in a construction investment, explicitly identifying categories such as:

- Client, investor, and financier;
- User;
- Developer;
- Designer;
- Technical design verifier and expert;
- General contractor, contractor, and construction executor;
- Site supervisor and technical execution manager;
- Consultant;
- Project manager.

This distinction is important because it recognizes construction as a complex collaborative process involving multiple parties, each with responsibilities determined by their role and area of expertise.

### The Life Cycle of a Construction Project

One of the most useful frameworks introduced by C.A.T.U.C. is the definition of the construction investment project's life cycle.

The process begins with identifying a need or opportunity for construction and continues through commissioning and the building's operational life.

The Code establishes eight stages:

Stage 0 – Strategic Definition

The investment's foundation is established through a project justification document.

Stage 1 – Project Brief Definition

Project requirements and objectives are established through the design brief and supporting feasibility studies.

Stage 2 – Concept Definition

The project concept is developed and defined, establishing the overall direction of the future building.

Stage 3 – Design Development and Permitting

Design solutions are developed to the level required for authorization. The main documentation is the Construction Permit Design (PAC).

Stage 4 – Technical Design Development

The project progresses to detailed technical development through the Technical Execution Design and Execution Details (DE).

Stage 5 – Construction

This stage includes, among other activities, design adjustments, fabrication details, and preparation of the building's technical records.

Stage 6 – Handover and Commissioning

This stage concludes with the formal acceptance of the completed construction works.

Stage 7 – Building Operation

The final stage involves the building's actual operation and ongoing monitoring throughout its service life.

Decisions made during the strategy, briefing, and concept stages influence the technical solution, costs, construction process, and ultimately how the building performs and operates.

### Risk and Liability in Construction Projects

C.A.T.U.C. also addresses risk management separately, under Article 556.

Professional liability insurance becomes mandatory for all parties involved in a project, including clients and developers, designers and consultants, technical verifiers and experts, contractors, and construction companies.

At the same time, sanctions are more clearly aligned with each participant's role and responsibilities, including provisions concerning the suspension of professional practice rights or signing authority.

For the construction industry, this represents a significant change in how project risk and professional accountability are managed.

### Materials, Products, and Technologies Within a Clearer Legislative Framework

C.A.T.U.C. dedicates a separate section to the materials, products, equipment, systems, and technologies used in construction.

It clarifies the documentation required for construction products and components to be legally marketed and used.

In practice, selecting a material is not simply a matter of its technical properties or market availability. The accompanying documentation, product compliance, and integration into the building's technical design are equally important.

### Sanctions

C.A.T.U.C. separately regulates sanctions applicable within the construction industry.

These are aligned with the roles and responsibilities of the parties involved in a project and include provisions for suspending professional practice rights or signing authority.

## [5] C.A.T.U.C. Annexes: From Definitions to Technical Documentation

For professionals directly involved in construction projects, the annexes to the new Code are just as important as its general provisions.

### Annex 1: Definitions and Terminology

Annex 1 establishes definitions for a wide range of terms used in urban planning and construction.

Some of the most relevant include parapet walls, land-use balances, Floor Area Ratio (CUT), cornices, site instructions, buildable areas, urban planning indicators, green-blue infrastructure, building height, attics, mezzanines, technical floors, the 15-minute city, pergolas, roof spaces, Site Coverage Ratio (POT), Construction Permit Design (PAC), Demolition Permit Design (PAD), Technical Execution Design, building height regimes, basements, intermediate floors, gross floor area, accessible and non-accessible roof terraces, and roof ridge height.

In practice, this annex is one of the key references for understanding the terminology used throughout the new legislative framework.

### Annexes 2–5: Documentation Requirements

These annexes define the required content and structure for:

- Construction Permit Design documentation;
- Construction Permit Design documentation for single-family homes in rural areas;
- Development Works Permit Design documentation;
- Demolition Permit Design documentation.

Annexes 6 and 7 address the classification of buildings into consequence classes and the establishment of budget margins for private investments.

### New Construction Permitting Forms

The legislative changes are also accompanied by updates to the administrative documents used in practice.

On August 26, 2026, MDLPA Order No. 975/2026 was published, introducing standardized forms related to construction permitting.

These include applications, notifications, certification and authorization documents, as well as a standardized title block template for technical documentation.

Adapting to C.A.T.U.C. therefore involves more than simply reading the new Code. It also requires changes to the practical processes of urban planning, design, construction, operation, and ongoing building monitoring.

## [6] What Does C.A.T.U.C. Mean for Investors, Designers, and Contractors?

From the perspective of an actual construction project, the most important changes can be summarized in six key areas.

1\. Urban Planning Becomes More Digital

Urban planning documentation is integrated into a national digital system through the National Territorial Observatory and the National Urban Planning and Construction Permitting Platform.

2\. The Approval Process Is Reorganized

Single Approval Commissions and integrated approval mechanisms aim to reduce administrative bottlenecks and streamline the approval process.

3\. Certain Works May Follow Simplified Procedures

Notification-based authorization, works exempt from administrative formalities, and regularization permits establish distinct procedures for specific types of interventions.

4\. Responsibilities Are More Clearly Defined

Developers, investors, designers, contractors, and other project participants have their roles and responsibilities defined in greater detail.

5\. Projects Are Considered Throughout Their Entire Life Cycle

From strategic definition and design briefing to construction, handover, and operation, the Code defines the stages of a project and their associated documentation.

6\. Risk and Liability Become More Significant

Mandatory professional liability insurance and the alignment of sanctions with participants' responsibilities change how accountability is managed throughout construction projects.

## [7] C.A.T.U.C. – A Change in Legislation and in Industry Practice

C.A.T.U.C. aims to bring together regulations that were previously distributed across numerous legislative acts into a unified system.

For professionals involved in construction projects, the real impact of this change will depend on how the new procedures are implemented, how quickly administrative structures become operational, how effectively the digital platform functions, and how clearly the new requirements are reflected in technical documentation.

An important deadline is November 17, 2026, by which the Single Approval Commissions established under the new framework must be created.

At the same time, local authorities have three years to update General Urban Plans (PUGs) that are more than seven years old, according to the transitional provisions outlined in the reviewed materials.

## Conclusion

The Spatial Planning, Urbanism and Construction Code changes the framework within which construction projects are developed and delivered in Romania.

From urban planning documentation and its digitalization to permitting, design, construction, responsibilities, and building operation, C.A.T.U.C. aims to bring all these stages into a more coherent process.

For clients, this highlights one essential point: decisions made before construction begins are becoming increasingly important.

For designers and contractors, it means adapting to a new set of regulations, documents, and responsibilities.

And for any new project, the first step remains the same: correctly understanding the regulatory framework within which the construction will take place.

At Inginerie Creativă, we closely follow legislative changes and how they translate into real-world design and construction practices, ensuring that technical solutions are not only compliant but also properly integrated into the entire investment process.

## Glossary of Terms

C.A.T.U.C. – Spatial Planning, Urbanism and Construction Code (Codul Amenajării Teritoriului, Urbanismului și Construcțiilor).

PUG – General Urban Plan (Plan Urbanistic General).

PUZ – Zonal Urban Plan (Plan Urbanistic Zonal).

PUD – Detailed Urban Plan (Plan Urbanistic de Detaliu).

PAC – Construction Permit Design (Proiect pentru Autorizarea Construirii).

PAD – Demolition Permit Design (Proiect pentru Autorizarea Desființării).

PTh / P.Th. – Technical Execution Design (Proiect Tehnic de Execuție).

DE – Execution Details (Detalii de Execuție).

POT – Site Coverage Ratio (Procent de Ocupare a Terenului).

CUT – Floor Area Ratio (Coeficient de Utilizare a Terenului).

MDLPA – Ministry of Development, Public Works and Administration (Ministerul Dezvoltării, Lucrărilor Publice și Administrației).