Building activities in Italy are managed by local administrations (in this case, the Technical Offices of the municipalities) on the basis of a body of state laws, regional laws and local regulations, on urban planning and technical matters. In order to obtain a Building Permit, it is necessary to apply to a licensed professional registered with the Register of Architects, the Register of Engineers, or the College of Surveyors; these are the only professionals qualified to submit a project in order to obtain a Building Permit and then follow the site work. The administrative process for obtaining a Building Permit is similar in almost all municipalities around Lake Garda, there may be small differences in the administrative paths between different localities. To construct or renovate a residential building, the procedure to get to obtain a permit is as follows:
Submission of the final design to the protocol office of the municipality in which the building to be renovated or constructed is located, signed by the private citizen (the applicant for the Building Permit) and the licensed professional.
Within 60 days from the date of submission of the project, the person in charge of the procedure of the Municipal Technical Office (U.T.) shall draw up an opinion on the project regarding its compatibility with the current urban and technical regulations.
In the event that the building to be renovated or constructed, is located in a municipality where environmental protection of the territory is arranged, the project must also be evaluated by the Superintendence of the Province on which the building is located (for example, the competent Superintendence for the municipalities of Bardolino, Lazise, Garda or Peschiera is that of Verona). The Technical Office of the municipality sends the project to the competent office of the Superintendence; the body from that moment has 60 days to issue its opinion. It often happens that the Superintendence does not issue any opinion and therefore, at the end of the 60 days, the project is considered approved.
At the end of this period, the U.T. of the municipality issues the Environmental Permit.
The U.T. of the municipality, having evaluated the project and the documents delivered by the professional, having assessed the opinion of the Building Commission and the Superintendence, writes to the professional to inform him of the economic charges to be paid by the applicant for the Building Permit and, if necessary, what documents the professional should provide to supplement the building file.
Once all charges have been paid by the applicant and supplementary documents have been delivered by the professional, the U.T. of the municipality issues the Building Permit.
From the date of issuance of the Building Permit, the applicant has one year to start work.
The Commencement of Work is an administrative procedure through which the applicant must notify the actual date of the commencement of the work itself, the construction company that will do the work, the construction manager, and must carry out the regulatory duties relating to Construction site safety.
From the date of the Commencement of Work, the applicant has three years to finish the Work by applying for the building to be ready for use.
The case presented concerns an administrative proceeding with a positive outcome; in the event that even one of the above opinions is negative or suspensive, the timeframe would lengthen. Therefore, it becomes important to contact a professional who can advise the private party in all steps to avoid bureaucratic hiccups as much as possible.
Mark D.
“As a supplier, as an area manager for Dutch multinational operating in the field of advanced wall coverings “Vescom,” I can state the careful analysis performed by the architect related to the performance of the materials and from the guarantees to the actual durability. Aesthetic and chromatic choice that responds to a high quality design concept. Last but not least, a sensitive attention to the investment, maintaining a proper balance between quality and price.”
Max G.
“A very professional, punctual architect with in-depth and up-to-date knowledge of modern materials, he excellently showed his good taste by meeting my aesthetic requirements perfectly, compatible with my budget.”