Notification of commencement of construction works in Ukraine: 5 steps

In Ukraine, building a house under the building passport procedure requires a notification of commencement of construction works before work begins. The Ukrainian document is called «повідомлення про початок виконання будівельних робіт». Preparation starts earlier, with checks on the plot and the proposed position of the house.

This guide follows five steps for a new house: land records, a topographic survey, site development drawings, a building passport and a commencement notice. It is a practical preparation route for this procedure, rather than a document checklist for every type of construction.

Step 1. Check the plot’s land cadastre records

An extract from Ukraine’s State Land Cadastre — «витяг з Державного земельного кадастру», abbreviated ДЗК — records the plot’s cadastral number, area, boundaries, designated land use and registered restrictions. These details inform the positions of the house, garage and other structures.

You can request an extract through an administrative services centre, known as ЦНАП, or an available government online service. Land cadastre information and evidence of ownership or land-use rights serve different purposes. Check both when preparing to build.

An example land cadastre extract showing plot records and the cadastral plan.

Step 2. Commission a 1:500 topographic survey

A survey gives the architect a measured base for designing the site layout. It shows ground levels, existing buildings, roads, access routes and utility networks. Plot boundaries should be checked against cadastral records. Official street boundary lines, known in Ukraine as “red lines”, and planning restrictions must be checked against the relevant records; a survey alone does not establish their legal position.

The information needed for the layout includes:

• plot boundaries and dimensions;

• existing structures and neighbouring buildings;

• utility networks;

• ground levels, roads and access;

• red lines and other constraints on the position of the house.

Commission a certified surveying engineer. The author gives 3–10 working days as a practical indication, depending on the plot and its location. This is not a statutory processing period: agree the scope and programme with the surveyor.

The survey base helps relate ground levels, existing features and utility networks to the proposed layout.

Survey coordination in Kyiv

In Kyiv, preparing the survey material may involve municipal survey and planning records and the necessary coordination. Architect Oleksiy Biryukovych reports that, in his clients’ experience, this coordination could take 2–3 months. That experience is not a standard deadline for every plot.

His recommendation is to ask the surveyor which coordination steps apply to your plot, whether they are included in the fee and whether the material supplied will be ready for use in the building passport application.

Kyiv: clarify the scope of coordination when commissioning a survey. The graphic illustrates the author’s practical route.

A topographic survey and ground investigations answer different questions. For the role of ground conditions, see ground investigations for foundation design (in Ukrainian).

Step 3. Prepare the site layout and preliminary design drawings

The proposed site development plan — «схема намірів забудови земельної ділянки» — shows where the house and other structures will stand. In the author’s workflow, it is drawn on the topographic base so that distances to plot boundaries and neighbouring buildings can be checked alongside utility networks, red lines and other constraints.

A layout for a specific plot. The dimensions shown apply to this example only.

The preliminary design material, called «ескізні наміри забудови», comprises floor plans, elevations, a section and explanatory notes. The site layout and house drawings need to be consistent.

This is the stage at which the architect checks whether the chosen house can fit on the actual plot while respecting the required distances and restrictions. Identifying a conflict now gives you an opportunity to adjust the layout before excavation begins.

Example preliminary design sheets. Areas, dimensions and construction details belong to the house shown.

See the example site development and preliminary design drawings for the contents of the drawing package (in Ukrainian).

Step 4. Obtain the Ukrainian building passport

A building passport — «будівельний паспорт забудови земельної ділянки» — is a Ukrainian document setting requirements for development of a plot. The procedure covers individual residential, garden and summer houses of up to 500 m² and no more than two storeys, excluding the attic storey, together with associated outbuildings, garages and site improvements.

Applications can be made through ЦНАП, directly to the authorised local planning and architecture authority, or online through Diia («Дія»), Ukraine’s government services portal. Check the documents and submission instructions on the building passport service page (in Ukrainian). The site plan is only part of the application: check your land-rights documents and any required co-owner consents.

Before submission, Oleksiy Biryukovych recommends checking the position of the house once more. In his practice, overlooked distances to boundaries, neighbouring buildings, red lines and utilities have caused difficulties. The drawing should reflect a check of this house on this plot.

Once the passport has been issued, the next step is to submit the commencement notice. The passport does not replace that step.

Left: an example of an earlier paper passport for reconstruction. Right: the online service page.

Step 5. Submit the commencement notice and check the outcome

The construction client or an authorised representative submits the notice. For this procedure, you can use ЦНАП or the Diia commencement notice service (in Ukrainian).

Online submission requires a qualified electronic signature. Have the building passport’s registration details ready and check the signing arrangements where there are co-owners. Foreign applicants attending in person need an appropriate identity document. Access to online submission depends on the applicant’s electronic identification and available records.

When checked on 20 September 2026, Diia indicated around 10 minutes to complete the form, with no submission fee. Registration is automatic or takes 5 days, with a possible further 5 days for the authorised planning and architecture authority to confirm information. Form-filling time and registration time are separate.

Confirm that the notice has been registered

Check your online account for the outcome: the notice may be registered or returned for correction. After registration, find the record in Ukraine’s Construction Activity Register, part of the Unified State Electronic System in the Construction Sector (ЄДЕССБ). Look for the document category «Декларативні та дозвільні документи».

The register interface. This screenshot does not confirm the registration of any particular commencement notice.

Checks before the construction team starts work

As a practical safeguard, check that the notice is registered, relates to your development and has not been returned for correction before the team starts on site. Keep its registration number and check the plot details. This confirms the outcome of submission; it is not a separate building permit.

The five steps describe preparation under the building passport procedure. You still need to check restrictions affecting the particular plot and any other requirements applicable to the planned works.

Frequently asked questions

Is a building passport alone enough to start construction?

No. This procedure also requires a commencement notice before work starts. We recommend checking its registration and the accuracy of the register entry.

Where can I submit the notice?

Through Diia or ЦНАП. If a representative acts for you, their authority must be documented.

Is there a submission fee?

The online service is free. Surveying and preparation of drawings are separate services and are not made free by this arrangement.

How long does registration take?

Diia lists automatic registration or 5 days, with a possible further 5 days for information checks. Follow the document’s actual status rather than relying only on elapsed time.

Where can I see the result?

In your online account and, once registered, in the Construction Activity Register within ЄДЕССБ.

What happens when construction is finished?

The next administrative stage is acceptance of the completed building into use. For a house built under a building passport, submit the declaration of readiness for use, «декларація про готовність об’єкта до експлуатації» (service page in Ukrainian). A technical inventory survey precedes this stage. This declaration is a different document from the commencement notice.

The preparation sequence

1. Check the land records.

2. Commission the 1:500 topographic survey.

3. Prepare the site layout and preliminary drawings.

4. Obtain the building passport.

5. Submit the notice and check its registration.

Checking the plot and house position before submitting documents helps identify conflicts early. Further material on methods and budgeting is available in house construction: methods and costs (in Ukrainian).

Ask the architect

For questions about the position of your house, site development drawings or the building passport, call or message Oleksiy Biryukovych.