11.12.2025 17:36
The central period for opening and operating licenses has begun, and the Ministry will take over applications that are not concluded within the specified time. The new regulation has changed the conditions across all sectors; standards have been updated in many areas, from accommodation facilities to solar power plants. In particular, it has now become mandatory to obtain a building usage permit and a fire report for accommodation facilities.
The Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change has made comprehensive changes to the regulations regarding business opening and operating licenses. With the regulation published in the Official Gazette and coming into effect, the way has been opened for the Ministry to directly issue licenses for applications that municipalities do not conclude within the specified time. Thus, a new central control and authorization mechanism has been established to enable commercial activities to start without delay.
MINISTRY INTERVENTION IN LICENSE APPLICATIONS
According to the regulation, license applications that are not concluded within the legal time frame by municipalities, despite being in compliance with the legislation, can now be made to the provincial directorates of the Ministry. If deemed necessary, licenses can be directly issued by the Ministry. The authority for application review, process tracking, and conclusion has been granted to the provincial directorates.
CLEAR RULES FOR ACCOMMODATION FACILITIES
The regulation mandates that all accommodation facilities, such as hotels, motels, mountain houses, and holiday villages, must have:
Building usage permit
Fire department report has become mandatory, and uncertainties in implementation have been resolved.
Additionally, the following conditions have been added:
Qualified exterior facades, interior wall, and floor coverings
Central heating or air conditioning
Sufficient natural or mechanical ventilation in the premises
Continuous hot and cold water
Customer elevators in buildings with more than three floors for customers
Alarm and ventilation systems in elevators
No kitchen in bedrooms
Provisions for accessibility for disabled individuals have also been updated, making it mandatory for businesses to comply with accessibility regulations.
NEW STANDARDS FOR TOURISM-RENTED HOMES
Conditions for tourism-rented homes similar to Airbnb have been reorganized in accordance with Law No. 7464. Accordingly:
If a license document is issued for more than 5 independent sections in a building under the same landlord's name, a business opening license will be mandatory.
Up to 25% of the independent sections in a building can be rented under the same landlord's name.
Unanimous consent of all property owners will be required for the business to be opened.
If located within a site, unanimous consent from all property owners of the buildings in the site will also be required.
NEW DEFINITIONS IN REGULATIONS FOR ENTERTAINMENT CENTERS
The definitions of "entertainment center," "tourism complex," and "holiday center" have been included in the regulation for the first time, falling under the category of public recreation and entertainment venues.
The following new types of facilities have been added to the definition of "accommodation facility":
Rural tourism facility, mobile home, luxury tent, accommodation forest park, picnic area for accommodation purposes, and holiday village.
UPDATED GSM LISTS AND PUBLIC PLACES
With the new regulation:
The activity subjects of Non-Sanitary Establishments (GSM) have been updated.
New activity areas have been added based on the class determinations of the Ministry of Health.
To end the different practices in municipalities, the list of public recreation and entertainment venues has been included in the regulation for the first time.
DEVICE STANDARDS FOR BEAUTY SALONS
New technical criteria have been introduced for devices used in beauty salons. Accordingly, the devices must have:
Spectrophotometer and laser power measurement reports
Obtained from authorized services with TSE-HYB certificates or inspection organizations.
DETAILED TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS FOR CARPET CLEANING PLACES
A comprehensive framework has been established for carpet cleaning businesses. The workplaces must have at least:
250 m² area,
Information recording system (computer/tablet, etc.),
Boiler or roll-type centrifuge,
Vacuum water removal system,
Carpet hanging area protected from dust and sunlight,
Heat-insulated drying room,
At least 2 tons of water tank,
At least 1 m³ wastewater sedimentation pool.
CHANGES IN LICENSES FOR SOLAR ENERGY PLANTS AND GEOTHERMAL GREENHOUSES
The license class for solar energy plants (GES) has been simplified; all have been included in the 3rd class non-sanitary establishment category. Thus, licensing has been facilitated.
Geothermal greenhouse facilities have been downgraded from 1st class to 2nd class GSM to support production.