Registering a building in the cadastre: how the procedure works
Registration in the cadastre means that a house, flat or extension is recorded with the correct floor area and owner details. If a building is not registered, selling it, taking out a loan against it or inheriting it can be much more complicated.
Which type of registration do you need
| Situation | Surveyor | Basis for registration |
|---|---|---|
| New house or building with a permit | Yes — survey and survey report | Occupancy permit or other construction act, survey report |
| Extension, added storey | Yes | Construction act, survey report |
| Building without a permit | Yes | First legalisation, then registration |
| Flats in a building as separate units | Yes — unit division | Unit division survey report |
| Change of owner (purchase, gift, inheritance) | Usually not | Contract certified by a notary, inheritance decision |
| Mortgage or mortgage removal | No | Mortgage agreement / bank's mortgage release consent |
How a building is registered
- First check the current records in eKatastar: whether the plot is in your name and whether the building is already recorded.
- Prepare the documents for the building: permit, design, occupancy permit or legalisation decision.
- Hire a licensed land surveyor (geometar). They survey the building on site and prepare the survey report (geodetski elaborat).
- The surveyor then submits the survey report to the cadastre's regional office (područna jedinica) for review.
- Submit an application for registration with proof of your rights and pay the fee.
- The cadastre then issues a decision and the building appears on the property certificate (list nepokretnosti).
Documents to prepare
- Owner's identity document (or power of attorney)
- Proof of rights to the plot — usually already recorded on the property certificate
- Construction act (permit / construction notification / occupancy permit) or legalisation decision
- Design or sketch of the building, if available — it speeds up the survey report
- For a flat: contract with the developer and details of the building
Survey report for registering a building
The survey report covers the measurements, a sketch, floor areas and the position of the building on the plot. It is prepared by a licensed surveying organisation. To register a new building or certain changes to a property, the survey report is part of the required documents. Types of survey report.
Cost and timeframe
The cost is made up of two main items:
- Surveyor — survey and survey report: on request
- Cadastre fees — on request
Time to prepare the survey report: on request. Processing at the cadastre depends on the regional office.
Prices are indicative. The final price is set by the surveying company after reviewing documents and the site. State fees are paid separately.
All indicative prices for surveying services →
Send a request to a surveyor
Registering and removing a mortgage
The cadastre registers a mortgage on the basis of the agreement with the bank. Once the loan is repaid, the bank issues its consent to remove the mortgage (brisovna dozvola), and either you or the bank submits the application to the cadastre. You do not need a surveyor for this procedure.
Frequently asked questions
I bought a flat. Do I need a surveyor?
If the flat is already registered as a separate unit — no. The notarised contract and an application to the cadastre are enough. If the flat is not registered, the building must first go through unit division (etažna razrada).
Can I register a house without a permit?
Not directly. Legalisation is started first, and registration follows once the decision is issued.
Who submits the survey report to the cadastre?
Usually the surveying company that prepared it. The application to register the rights is submitted by the owner or their authorised representative.
Information, not legal advice. This text explains a general procedure. Regulations change and every case is different. For property decisions, disputes and deadlines consult a lawyer or the competent authority. →
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