Construction Process in Greece 2026: Timelines, Quiet Hours, Major Renovation and Strengthening
AVLA REAL ESTATE · GREECE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS · THE GENERAL CONTRACTOR'S VIEW
How Long Does Construction Take in Greece, Why Does It Stop, and How Is a Building Strengthened?
Quick answer: In Athens, a new 4–6-storey residential building typically takes 18–30 months from excavation to handover after the permit is issued. A major renovation (ριζική ανακαίνιση) that converts a commercial building into a residence takes 8–14 months depending on scope. This is longer than the pace usually experienced in Türkiye. Working hours are limited by law, archaeological and zoning inspections are strict, and strengthening the load-bearing system to meet the new seismic regulations also requires time.
Most of the apartments purchased for a Golden Visa are either in new projects under construction or in buildings converted from commercial to residential use. In this report we summarise, with input from on-site general contractors, what determines the delivery date, under what conditions a site may be halted, and how the building is reinforced in conversion projects.
Author: M. Sami Akbeniz — Founder, Avla Real Estate, Istanbul.
Timeline summary
New building (4–6 storeys): after the permit, excavation, structural frame, façade, utilities and finishing works take 18–30 months.
Major renovation / change of use: interior demolition, strengthening, new utilities and finishing works take 8–14 months.
Electrical connection and final documents: the utility company's connection and acceptance certificates can take from a few weeks to several months.
Note: These are not published official standards but the planning ranges used by general contractors. Each project’s specific schedule is written into the contract.
01 Why does it take longer than the usual pace in Türkiye?
In Greece, construction sites sit in the middle of residential areas and the neighbours' peace is protected by law. The police regulation on public peace bans noisy work at certain hours: roughly 15:00 to 17:30 in the afternoon and at night are quiet hours. Sites do not operate on Sundays and public holidays. Municipalities may add further restrictions, and the hours can differ slightly by season.
Short workday: Actual work on most sites starts early in the morning and ends in the afternoon. The long shift and weekend tempo common in Türkiye is not applied here.
August: A holiday month nationwide. Supplies, municipal procedures and crews slow down.
Heat break: On heat-wave days the Ministry of Labour may impose a mandatory midday break on outdoor work.
Labour shortage: Finding construction workers has become harder since 2024. Good contractors secure their crews in advance.
02 Under what conditions can construction stop?
Archaeological find: Excavations in Athens' historic districts are carried out under the supervision of the Ephorate of Antiquities. If a find turns up during digging, work stops and resumes once excavation and documentation are complete. This can take from weeks to months.
Permits and zoning decisions: In its 2025 decisions 146–149, Greece's Council of State (ΣτΕ) ruled unconstitutional the application of the additional building rights granted by the New Building Code (ΝΟΚ) without regard to the local zoning plan. Some permits came under review; the 2025 legislative amendment opened a re-licensing route for certain projects.
Inspections and objections: Municipal inspection, a neighbour’s objection, or a permit-cancellation lawsuit can temporarily halt the work.
Supply and crews: Material delays and the labour shortage can move the schedule; they slow work down rather than stop it.
Avla's legal filter: For every project we take into our portfolio, we check in advance the permit number and zoning status, whether additional building rights have been used, and the archaeological position of the area. We do not offer you a risky project.
03 Major renovation: how are columns and beams strengthened?
The €250,000 Golden Visa threshold applies only to projects that convert a commercial building into residential use. In most of these projects the building is stripped back to its load-bearing frame. Walls, old installations and finishes are removed; usually only the columns and floor slabs remain. The structure is then strengthened under a structural design prepared in line with the regulation governing interventions on existing buildings (ΚΑΝ.ΕΠΕ).
Columns: Existing columns are thickened with reinforced-concrete jacketing (μανδύας) or reinforced with carbon-fibre wrapping.
Beams and slabs: The load-bearing capacity is increased according to calculations, and new beams are added if necessary.
Seismic calculation: Strengthening follows the Greek seismic code and Eurocode 8 targets. Core samples are first taken from the existing concrete and tested.
Result: Utilities, insulation and energy class approach new-build standards. Legally, however, the structure remains a "conversion", not a new build.
This method cannot be carried out without an engineering design, the required permits and engineer supervision. In our single-property presentations we also state the permit and strengthening details of each conversion project.
04 How can you follow progress?
Regular progress report: We provide step-by-step information with on-site photos and videos up to delivery: excavation, structural work, façade, installations, finishing works.
Payment plan tied to stages: Payments are mostly linked to construction milestones; the plan is written into the contract.
Delivery date and delay clause: The contract states the delivery date and what happens in case of delay; our legal panel reads it before signing.
Frequently asked questions
Is the delivery date fixed? The date stated in the contract is binding, but situations beyond the developer's control, such as an archaeological find or an official decision, can extend the timeframe. These situations and their consequences are regulated in the contract.
Can a Golden Visa application be made before construction is finished? The application is made once the title deed is registered and payments are complete. The property does not have to be finished; the details are confirmed by our lawyer according to the project and threshold.
Is a conversion project as safe against earthquakes as a new building? Strengthening is carried out under a structural design and in line with the regulations in force. We also share the engineering details of each project.
Sources: Council of State of Greece (ΣτΕ) decisions 146–149/2025; Ministry of Environment and Energy (ΥΠΕΝ) explanations of the New Building Code (ΝΟΚ); public-peace police regulation; ΚΑΝ.ΕΠΕ and Eurocode 8; Avla field experience and the views of the general contractors we work with, October 2026.
Avla's view: In Greece a good project does not rush, but it does not stall either. Before purchase we monitor the permit and the risk; after purchase we monitor the site on your behalf.
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