With the change in the zoning regulation, new obligations have been imposed on buildings.

11.03.2025 14:52

Revolutionary changes have been made to the Zoning Regulation. New obligations have been imposed on buildings. A wide range of changes has come into effect, from rainwater storage for electric vehicle charging stations to the use of gray water and accessible play areas for children.

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The Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change has implemented numerous changes in the Planned Areas Zoning Regulation. According to a statement from the ministry, significant changes have been made to building regulations with the Regulation on Amendments to the Planned Areas Zoning Regulation prepared by the General Directorate of Professional Services, published in the Official Gazette.

NEW OBLIGATIONS FOR BUILDINGS

According to the changes made, the installation of rainwater and gray water systems will be mandatory in certain sizes and types of private and public buildings to be constructed after January 1, 2026. Gray water obtained from showers, bathtubs, and hand-washing sinks will be treated and used only in toilet cisterns. Gray water systems will be mandatory in accommodation facilities with more than 200 beds, shopping centers with a construction area larger than 10,000 square meters, and public buildings with a construction area larger than 30,000 square meters. This way, an average annual water saving of 4 million cubic meters is aimed, with the goal of saving as much water as Mogan Lake in 1.5 years through rainwater and gray water systems.

PUBLIC BUILDINGS ALSO SUBJECT TO REGULATION

According to a report by Dünya Gazetesi, with the update, new public buildings with a total construction area of over 10,000 square meters to be built after 2026 will be required to have a Green Certificate (YeS-TR). In this context, an annual energy saving of approximately 600 million kilowatt-hours will be achieved, equivalent to the energy produced by Keban Dam in one month. With the amendment, a reduction of 50 million kilograms of greenhouse gases equivalent to 8 acres of forest area will result in a saving of 800 million TL. In buildings with YeS-TR certification, the use of recyclable materials will prevent economic losses. More comfortable and healthier structures will be built using environmentally labeled materials with low chemical and radiation emissions.

REQUIREMENT FOR SPACES FOR DISABLED CHILDREN HAS STARTED

According to the amendment, at least 4% of park areas of 2,500 square meters and above will be required to be made available for disabled children's use. These areas will be designed so that not only disabled children but all children can play together in the same area. The Building Permit and Building Usage Permit Form will now include information on whether facilities such as electric vehicle charging units, solar energy systems, wind energy systems, and cogeneration are present. This way, property owners and potential buyers will be informed about which systems are present in the building through documents, ensuring that the relevant authorities' inspections are not disrupted.

CHARGING UNITS FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES WILL BE INSTALLED

The installation of charging units for electric vehicles in residential areas will be facilitated. The electrical installation required for the installation of charging units in site and apartment parking lots will not be subject to a building permit. With the regulation, processes such as project and signature for the installation of electric vehicle charging units will be simplified. New standards will also be introduced regarding the installation of wind turbines in the regulation. Accordingly, the area covered by the concrete base carrying the wind turbine and the surface area of the tower carrying the wind turbine will be calculated as the construction area, and the building permit fee will be determined by multiplying this area by the unit price per square meter.

SPECIAL CALCULATION FOR CARBON FOOTPRINT

Studies will be conducted for the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of buildings. The carbon footprint in the life cycle of buildings will be calculated and limited. Data related to the building's life cycle will be transferred to a digital environment. It will be visualized and managed with three-dimensional building models. Thus, permit and approval processes can be carried out in a digital environment. Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Murat Kurum stated in a social media post regarding the regulation: "We have taken a new, strong step towards a greener environment that will make our citizens' lives easier. Our 'Planned Areas Zoning Regulation' published in the Official Gazette will prioritize recycling and environmentally friendly savings in public buildings, greatly contributing to our 2053 Net Zero Emissions and Green Transformation goals."