Many people imagine getting a building permit as complicated bureaucracy, but in reality it's a clear, step-by-step process. If you know in advance the order you're moving in and which document will be asked for at which step, the permit can be obtained without problems or unnecessary delays. In this article we walk through the whole journey — from the plot's conditions to the final permit.
What a building permit is and when you need one
A building permit is an official document that gives you the right to build a building on a specific plot according to an approved design. Construction started without a permit is illegal, and legalising it afterwards is far more expensive and much harder than going through the process correctly from the start.
A permit is needed for almost every new building — whether it's a private house, an apartment building or a commercial property. The only exceptions are certain small or temporary structures.
Building classes — why they determine everything
The complexity of the process depends directly on the building class. The class is set by floor area, height and other parameters:
- Class I (up to 60 m²): the simplest process, fewer documents and a short timeline.
- Class II (60–500 m²): the most common case for private houses — several stages, with a more detailed design.
- Class III (500–6000 m²): large-scale buildings, where the process is the longest and most complex.
Important: the class isn't set by floor area alone — height, number of floors and the underground part also play a role.
Stage 1: The plot's building conditions
At the first step, the building's design isn't considered yet. City Hall establishes what can be built on the plot at all — the building's position, maximum height, development coefficients and other key parameters. These conditions then become the basis for the whole project.
Stage 2: Approval of the architectural design
Based on the established conditions, the full design documentation is prepared — the architectural, structural, geological and, where needed, engineering parts. This package is submitted to City Hall for approval. This is where revisions usually come up, so the quality of the design directly determines how quickly it gets approved.
Stage 3: Issuing the building permit
Once the design is approved, the necessary technical documents are added and the building permit is issued. After that you can legally start construction.
Which documents you'll need
The exact list varies by class and municipality, but generally you'll need:
- An extract from the Public Registry (proof of land ownership)
- The cadastral map and plot data
- The architectural and construction conditions
- The approved architectural and structural design
- Where needed — geological and geodetic reports
How long does the process take?
The official timeline only starts once fully prepared documents are submitted — so you need to allow for the time to prepare the project separately.
- Class I: review takes ~1 week in municipalities, and can take up to 1 month in Tbilisi.
- Class II: in practice the full process often takes ~3–4 months, including the design.
- Class III: it's hard to give an exact timeline in advance; a project approved in ~6 months already counts as fast.
Common mistakes that drag the process out
- Starting construction before getting the permit
- Submitting the project with incomplete documentation
- Ignoring the plot's conditions before starting the design
- Frequently changing the concept once the project has started
These mistakes are easiest to avoid when one team handles both the design and the approval.
How Asymmetry can help
At Asymmetry, full architectural services are under one roof — from plot analysis and the architectural design to getting the building permit. That means you don't have to run between different specialists and authorities on your own — we manage the whole process.
Ready to start?
If you're planning to build, the first step is simple — get in touch and get a free consultation. Together we'll work out which stages lie ahead, how long they'll take and how to get the permit without problems.
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Contact: +995 571 14 14 69 · connectasymmetry@gmail.com