New construction next to your property in Bulgaria: which plan should you check and when can you object?
A drawing of the proposed building alone will not tell you what rights you have. Find out whether a draft detailed development plan has been announced, whether the plan has already been approved, or whether a building permit has been issued. The decision to examine and the people entitled to challenge it differ at each stage.
Is being a neighbour enough?
For a detailed development plan, Article 131 of Bulgaria’s Spatial Development Act ties participation to rights over a property directly affected by the plan. For example, does it allow an adjoining building on the boundary or a shorter setback from your property? Proximity alone does not answer that question. Identify both cadastral parcels and mark them on the same map. For Sofia, also check the special planning legislation: a conclusion about an older plan in the capital does not automatically apply to a property in Varna.
What should you ask the municipality for?
Ask for the decision number and date, the plan drawings and written provisions, any relevant amendments, and records of publication or notification. Include your ownership document and a current cadastral sketch. If your concern is height, setback or access, identify the boundary and the planning parameter affected. Objecting to a draft, challenging an approved plan, and reporting construction that departs from the plan are different steps. A general complaint to the municipality does not replace a timely appeal against a specific decision.
Legal source: Spatial Development Act, Article 131.
For advice on your case, contact Mihail Tomov or another lawyer at Tomovi Law Firm.