Romania’s Development minister, Alexandru Stoica, said on Saturday that people will not face tenfold fees or doubled property tax for enclosed balconies. The clarification follows public concern over how the Urban Planning Code applies to balcony enclosures.

“I want this to be very clear: Romanians will not pay tenfold taxes, nor will their tax be doubled for enclosed balconies. No one will be harassed or punished for a balcony closed in good faith,” Stoica wrote on Facebook. The state’s role, he added, should be to help residents put paperwork in order — not to chase them with fines.

He pointed to a grace period running until August 2027 under the Urban Planning Code, during which a workable path to regularisation should be found. The aim, in his words, is legal certainty for homes — including for sale, inheritance or a loan — not punishment.

Stoica said he does not want residents sent on futile paper chases for documents from 15 years ago, or forced into costly procedures. The ministry will review the problems reported when owners try to bring enclosed balconies into compliance.

He also flagged cases where balconies were enclosed during thermal rehabilitation of apartment blocks. In those situations, he argued, permits and land-registry filings were the municipality’s duty, and shifting the burden onto residents would be absurd.

The minister criticised the rush in which the Urban Planning Code was drafted as a PNRR milestone and said the ministry will inventory the flaws and send Parliament a technical analysis as a basis for amending the law. While he remains in office, he pledged, the law should support people rather than impose rules “divorced from reality.”

The remarks come amid public signals about regularisation fees under the territorial planning, urbanism and construction code. Stoica did not present a final bill; he promised an inventory of problems and a correction proposal for Parliament.

Source: Development minister clarifies taxes on enclosed balconies (Mediafax)