Homeowners face new large fines for the roof over their heads

Life in the countryside does not provide for the free construction of buildings without compliance with building codes. Many owners of private households do not realize that installing a third floor without proper permits is a serious offense. Fines of up to 900 thousand hryvnias can be imposed for this.

According to information provided by the State Inspectorate for Architecture and Urban Planning of Ukraine, the construction of private residential buildings in rural areas is subject to specific requirements. In particular, a manor-type house can have no more than two floors, and an attic is allowed as a separate living space under the roof.

If the owner decides to build a third floor without the appropriate permit, this will be considered a violation of the law. In this case, a fine of from 8,500 to 908,400 hryvnias is provided even at the construction stage.

If permits were obtained, but other violations of building codes were discovered during the process, the fine may be from 850 hryvnias.

The issue is not limited to the number of floors. In rural areas, there are also requirements regarding the distance from the boundaries of the site, fire safety, the height of buildings, the location of septic tanks, and outbuildings. These standards must also be observed.

The third floor often becomes the leading cause of complaints and inspections. Sometimes developers are required not only to pay fines, but also to legalize project changes or even dismantle the illegally built part.

Experts recommend contacting local government bodies before starting any major construction, even in a village. In addition, it is essential to register the construction in the electronic system ЕДЕССБ (Single State Electronic System in the Field of Construction).

It is also essential to check the zoning of the site and its purpose using the cadastral map. Even if the site is private, the construction of a third floor that contradicts the standards is considered an administrative violation.

As a reminder, in 2023–2024, Ukraine tightened control over unauthorized construction, particularly in the suburbs of large cities and in areas where infrastructure modernization is planned. Attention is also being paid to rural communities, where construction often takes place without design documentation.