The design visa under Bulgarian planning law is one of the documents commonly required at the start of the investment design documentation for a new house.
Generally speaking, it shows the planning conditions under which design may proceed for the specific property.
It is important to know that a design visa is not a building permit.
What is a design visa?
The design visa is an extract from the effective Detailed Development Plan (PUP) showing the principal requirements for future development.
It may contain information about:
- building lines;
- the permissible height;
- building density;
- development intensity;
- existing buildings;
- the building arrangement;
- other restrictions.
What does this mean in practice?
If you own a plot of 700 m², the area itself does not show:
- where the building may be located;
- how high it may be;
- how much of the property can be built on;
- what statutory setbacks must be maintained.
These conditions must be established before the architectural solution is developed.
Is a design visa required for every house?
Not in all cases.
The need for a visa depends on:
- the effective PUP;
- the planning zone;
- the building arrangement;
- the development proposal;
- the specific characteristics of the property.
Who issues the visa?
Normally, the visa is issued by the chief architect of the relevant municipality.
The application can be submitted by the client or by an authorised representative.
The statutory period for issuing it is up to one month from the submission of the application.
How are electricity, water and sewerage related to the design visa?
Together with the visa, the required design inputs and conditions for connection to utility infrastructure can be requested.
This may include information on connection to the electricity distribution, water supply and sewerage networks.
Does the visa mean we can now build?
No.
After the design visa, the investment design documentation is prepared, coordinated and approved before a building permit is issued.
Design visa → investment design documentation → Approval → Building permit
Does the visa have an expiration date?
For the standard visa, there is no single short expiry period. It is important that the planning provisions on the basis of which it was issued remain current.
And if there is no suitable PUP for the property?
Issuing a design visa alone may not be sufficient.
It may first be necessary to draw up or amend a Detailed Development Plan (PUP).
Planning to build a house?
You can send us the cadastral identifier or a cadastral plan of the property, together with brief information about the building you wish to build.
Garant-21 architectural studio can carry out an initial review and guide you on the next steps.