Changing the designation of a land plot in Batumi and Adjara
Changing the designation of a land plot is needed when the plot is registered as agricultural and you plan to build more than your own home on it. The designation is changed by the Public Registry, and within Batumi and in recreation zones compensation per hectare is paid for the change. We check the extract and zone, correct the boundaries, submit the application and obtain a new extract. Support with a designation change from 1 200 ₾.
from 1 200 ₾support with changing the land designation at the Public Registry. The final price is confirmed once agreed.
- Timeline: a designation change usually takes 3–6 weeks if the boundaries in the registry are accurate
- Warranty: We stand behind the documents we prepare and submit
Who it’s for
The plot is agricultural, but you need a guesthouse or a shop
You are buying a plot and want to know what can be built on it
The bank will not accept an agricultural plot as collateral
You want to build more than the plot's zone allows
You are not sure whether your own house needs a designation change
What’s included
- checking the extract, designation and zone
- calculating the compensation before submission
- correcting boundaries and a measurement drawing
- preparing the application and documents
- submission to the Public Registry under a power of attorney
- obtaining a new extract
- advice on the zone and coefficients
Changing the designation of a land plot: when it is needed
Changing the designation of a land plot is needed when the plot is registered in the Public Registry as agricultural and you plan to build more than your own home on it. Every plot in an extract has a designation: agricultural or non-agricultural. It determines what can be built on the plot, whether compensation is due for the change, and how a bank and a buyer will value the land. The designation is changed by the Public Registry on the owner's application, and in some cases compensation is paid for the change.
When the designation does not need to change
By law a citizen owner does not need to change the designation of their own agricultural plot if they are building their own house, household and ancillary buildings on it and the plot is outside recreation zones. For such plots a permit for the house is obtained without changing the designation, as long as the house fits the zoning rules. For a guesthouse, a shop, an apartment building or any commercial property the designation is changed.
Compensation for changing the designation
| Where the plot is | Compensation |
|---|---|
| Within Batumi city limits | A fixed amount per hectare set by law |
| In a recreation zone | A fixed amount per hectare, higher than the city rate |
| Other agricultural land | Not charged by law |
Compensation is calculated in proportion to the plot area. We work out the exact amount for your plot before submission, so you see the full budget for the change, not just our fee.
How the change goes
- we check the extract, designation and zone of the plot;
- we compare the boundaries with the registry and make a measurement drawing if needed;
- we prepare the application and documents;
- we submit to the Public Registry under a power of attorney;
- you pay the compensation, if it is due;
- we obtain a new extract with a non-agricultural designation.
If the boundaries in the registry are inaccurate, they are corrected first, otherwise the registry may suspend registration. How we stake out and check boundaries is on the boundary staking page. A measurement drawing needs a survey; more on the topographic survey page.
Designation and functional zone
The designation in the registry and the functional zone in planning documents are different things. The designation says whether the plot is agricultural or not. The zone and its coefficients say what and how much can be built. You can change the designation and still not get a permit for a large house if the zone does not allow it. Changing the zone or coefficients goes through a special zonal agreement, a separate and lengthy procedure. How the permit itself is obtained is on the building permit page.
Before buying a plot
Designation and zone are best checked before the deposit. A seller may call a plot "for development" while the extract shows it as agricultural land in a recreation zone, and changing the designation adds compensation and several weeks to the price. If you plan a guesthouse, this is especially important; more about such properties on the guesthouses page. How we check a plot when buying is on the buying property page.
How much a designation change costs
Support with changing the land designation at the Public Registry costs from 1 200 ₾. A measurement (cadastral) drawing of the plot from 600 ₾, a topographic survey of a plot up to 1 000 m² from 1 020 ₾, boundary staking up to 6 points from 510 ₾. Support with a special zonal agreement to change building coefficients from 4 800 ₾. Compensation for the change and registry fees are paid separately. The final cost is set after checking the extract and agreeing the scope of work.
Stages and timelines
-
Check
1–3 days
Extract, designation, zone, compensation.
-
Boundaries
1–2 weeks
Check against the registry, measurement drawing.
-
Submission
1–2 days
Application to the Public Registry.
-
Decision
2–4 weeks
Review, compensation payment.
-
Extract
1 week
New designation in the registry.
Local specifics in Batumi
Around Batumi, in Makhinjauri, Mtsvane Kontskhi, Chakvi, Kobuleti and Adjara's villages, many plots are still registered as agricultural: they were once tangerine orchards and vegetable gardens. Part of the coast belongs to recreation zones, where compensation for a designation change is higher, and within the city limits a separate rate applies.
Sellers often call such plots "for development", and for your own house outside a recreation zone that may be true. But for a guesthouse, apartments or a shop the designation will have to be changed, and sometimes the zone approved as well. All of this is best found out before the deposit.
Materials and brands
A fresh Public Registry extract and cadastral plan, planning documents showing the plot's functional zone. A topographic survey and a measurement drawing if the boundaries need correcting. A notarised power of attorney for submission. A compensation calculation based on the plot area. A new extract with the changed designation at the end of the procedure. If there are several owners, notarised consents from all co-owners, otherwise the application will not be accepted. We keep copies of all applications and decisions in the plot file; it will be useful for the design and for a sale.
What makes up the cost
Timeline: a designation change usually takes 3–6 weeks if the boundaries in the registry are accurate
- zone, boundaries and ownership structure
What raises the cost
- a plot in a recreation zone
- inaccurate boundaries in the registry
- the zone or coefficients also need changing
- several owners
What lowers the cost
- a plot outside a recreation zone with accurate boundaries
- one owner and fresh documents
We prepare the exact estimate from measurements and photos. It’s free and comes with no obligation.
Get an estimateGuarantees
We stand behind the documents we prepare and submit. If the registry returns the application because of our mistake, we correct it and resubmit at our own expense. Compensation and fees are paid by the owner, and we calculate the amounts in advance.
Questions and answers
How much does a land designation change cost?
Support with a designation change at the Public Registry costs from 1 200 ₾, a measurement drawing of the plot from 600 ₾. Compensation for the change within Batumi and in recreation zones is calculated by area and paid separately. The final cost is set after checking the extract and agreeing the scope of work.
Can I build my own house on an agricultural plot?
Often yes. By law a citizen owner does not need to change the designation of their own agricultural plot outside a recreation zone if they build their own house, household and ancillary buildings. A permit for the house is still needed, and the house must fit the zoning rules.
Who changes the land designation?
The designation is changed by the Public Registry on the owner's application. If compensation is due, it is paid before registration. We submit the application under a power of attorney, track the deadlines and obtain the new extract. The zone and building coefficients are changed by City Hall through a special zonal agreement, which is a separate procedure.
Is a designation change enough to build a guesthouse?
Not always. The designation says the plot is not agricultural land, while the functional zone and its coefficients decide what and how much can be built. So before buying or designing we check both the designation and the zone, and only then work out how many rooms will really fit.
Do I need to change the designation to sell a plot?
An agricultural plot can be sold without changing its designation. But a buyer who wants to build a guesthouse or apartments will factor the compensation and the time for the change into the price. Sometimes it pays to change the designation before selling, sometimes not, and we work this out for the specific plot.
Further reading
Send the cadastral code: we will tell you whether a designation change is needed and what it costs within 24 hours
We reply within an hour during business hours. Message us or leave a request: we’ll call you back, go over the details and suggest the next step.
Mon–Fri 10:00–19:00, Sat 11:00–16:00