Top court clarifies rules for small village development

Greece’s highest administrative court has clarified the legal status of a new presidential decree regulating construction and land use in small villages, aiming to resolve confusion over development in rural and protected areas.

The Council of State ruled that Presidential Decree 194/2025 – which sets criteria for defining settlement boundaries and building terms in villages with fewer than 2,000 residents – is lawful, though some provisions require revision. The decree merges decades-old regulations and introduces new zoning categories to guide urban planning.

However, the court rejected a proposal by the Environment Ministry to include loosely defined rural areas – known as Zone C – within village boundaries. “These areas lacked the proper qualifications and their inclusion would effectively be an illegal expansion of settlements,” the court said.

It stressed that any expansion must follow formal urban planning procedures, such as approved land-use plans. The court also clarified that the new building rules cannot be used by local authorities to issue permits unless the village has been formally mapped and approved.

Kathimerini