Cadastral surveys and registration
A cadastral survey report is the official document that records changes to land and buildings in the Croatian cadastre and land registry. Since 1 February 2026 the reports are prepared under a new rulebook, fully digitally. Whether you are subdividing a parcel, registering a house or settling a boundary — we prepare the report, run the procedure and explain in advance what is expected of whom.
The new rulebook from 2026
The Rulebook on Geodetic Survey Reports (Official Gazette 7/2026), in force since 1 February 2026, standardised the report types under uniform designations (GE1a–GE28) and made their preparation and submission fully digital. For you as a client this means faster review and certification at the cadastre — for us, the obligation to produce the report to the State Geodetic Administration’s technical specifications from day one.
Common report types and prerequisites
The type of report depends on what you want to achieve — and each has prerequisites we verify before fieldwork:
| Report type | When you need it | Main prerequisite |
|---|---|---|
| Parcel subdivision or merger | selling part of a plot, dividing property, forming a building plot | compliance with the spatial plan or a building permit |
| Subdivision of agricultural land | dividing land outside the construction zone | new parcels generally no smaller than 1 ha (with statutory exceptions) |
| Building registration | recording a house or other building in the cadastre and land registry | proof of legality (see the table below) |
| Recording the actual position of a parcel | boundaries on the cadastral map do not match reality | field procedure with neighbours duly invited |
| Boundary determination and marking | unclear or contested boundary | invitation to neighbours at least 8 days before the procedure |
| Implementation of a building act | forming a plot per a location or building permit | a final building act |
Subdividing agricultural land — what is (not) possible
Land outside the boundaries of the construction zone is governed by special rules of the Agricultural Land Act (Article 83) — subdivision is possible, but with clear limits:
- New cadastral parcels may not be smaller than 1 ha (10,000 m²) — dividing agricultural land into smaller parcels is generally not allowed.
- Statutory exceptions: division based on inheritance and division for the construction of infrastructure.
- The report must include a certificate that the parcel lies outside the construction zone — we obtain it for you.
- Before you order, we check free of charge whether a division of your parcel is feasible at all — so you never pay for a report the cadastre cannot certify.
Registering buildings — proof of legality
To register a building, the survey report must be accompanied by proof that the building is legal. Depending on its age and history, that is one of the following documents:
| Document | For which buildings | Issued by |
|---|---|---|
| Use permit | buildings erected under a building permit | the building administration department |
| Legalization decision | legalised buildings | the administration department, in the legalization procedure |
| Certificate of time of construction | buildings erected before 15 February 1968 | the cadastral office from its records, or the administrative body based on an as-built survey |
The building registration procedure
- 1Document check — we establish which proof of legality you hold or which can be obtained; for old houses it is often the pre-1968 certificate.
- 2Field survey — we survey the building and the actual state of the parcel.
- 3Report preparation — digitally, under the new rulebook and the technical specifications.
- 4Review and certification — we submit the report to the cadastral office and resolve any remarks.
- 5Implementation — the change is entered in the cadastre and forwarded to the land registry; your parcel becomes a parcel with a building.
Subdivision, condominium division and base maps
Alongside building registration we prepare subdivision reports (splitting, merging and forming building plots — with a prior spatial-plan check), condominium division establishing ownership of flats and business premises, and certified geodetic base maps ready for your designer.
Who does what in the procedure
You as the client
- You provide basic parcel data and any documents you hold — permits, decisions, old plans.
- At the field survey it helps if you or an authorised person point out the boundaries of use, especially for boundary procedures.
- You sign the reports and applications we prepare; cadastral administrative fees are paid per the office’s invoice.
The neighbours
- For boundary determination they receive a written invitation at least 8 days before the field procedure.
- At the procedure they are required to point out the boundaries of their parcels and they sign the boundary report.
- A duly invited neighbour’s absence does not stop the procedure — the boundaries shown by those present are used.
Geoprostor
- We obtain cadastre and land registry data and send the invitations to neighbours.
- We survey, mark boundary points with permanent visible marks and draw up the prescribed reports.
- We prepare the survey report digitally, submit it to the cadastre and follow it through review, certification and implementation.
Frequently asked questions
When do I need a subdivision survey?
Whenever parcel boundaries change: selling part of your land, dividing property, merging parcels or forming a building plot according to the spatial plan or a building permit.
Do I have to be present at the field survey?
It is not mandatory, but it helps — especially when boundaries of use need to be pointed out. If you cannot attend, a household member or authorised person can do it, and we arrange the rest by phone.
How is an old house without any permits registered?
If it was built before 15 February 1968, legality is proven with a certificate of the time of construction, obtained from cadastre records or based on an as-built survey. For newer buildings without a permit the route is legalization — which we also handle.
How long does the procedure take?
Fieldwork and report preparation usually take up to two weeks, depending on complexity. The cadastral office then reviews and certifies the report, which typically takes several more weeks depending on their workload.
What documents do I need to provide?
Usually just the basic parcel data (parcel number and cadastral municipality) and your ID. We obtain cadastre and land registry extracts and other documentation as part of the service.
Can I divide agricultural land into smaller plots?
Outside the construction zone generally not into parcels smaller than 1 ha — the Agricultural Land Act explicitly forbids it. The exceptions are division through inheritance and for infrastructure construction. Send us the parcel number and we will check free of charge what is feasible.
How much does a cadastral survey cost?
The price depends on the type of report, the size and number of parcels and the quality of cadastral data in the area. Send us the parcel number and municipality — you will receive a fixed-price quote free of charge.
Need this service?
Send an inquiry with basic details about your parcel or project — quotes are free and we respond quickly.