Dialogos

Delays in Building Permits in Larnaca: EOA Attributes Problems to Procedures, Volume of Files and ‘Ippodamos’ System

Published January 9, 2026, 20:01
Delays in Building Permits in Larnaca: EOA Attributes Problems to Procedures, Volume of Files and ‘Ippodamos’ System

The EOA (Town Planning Authority) of Larnaca attributes the delays in issuing building and planning permits to a combination of factors, including long-standing and procedural issues, a large volume of pending files, and problems with the electronic ‘Ippodamos’ system. According to the announcement, the delays are not due to a single factor. Specifically, the need to obtain approvals from other services (Department of Environment, Department of Water Development, Fire Service) and the lack of or unclear information in applications contribute to the delay. In addition, the large number of files transferred from previous Authorities (over 5,400) relating to complex cases or transfer of building density, require extensive checks. The untimely revision of Local Plans and the problems with the ‘Ippodamos’ system further exacerbate the situation. The EOA assures that it is working to strengthen human resources, improve internal procedures, and closer cooperation with the involved services. The goal is to speed up the processes and increase the rate of issuing permits in Larnaca, addressing the chronic problems that have accumulated and leveraging the potential of digital transformation.