Eunpyeong District to Support Legalization of Small-Scale Residential Building Violations

Special Act on the Arrangement of Certain Buildings to Take Effect in December
Consultation Center to Operate Twice a Week

On September 28, Eunpyeong District in Seoul (District Mayor Mikyung Kim) announced that it will support the legalization of small-scale residential buildings that violate building regulations within its jurisdiction, in line with the Special Act on the Arrangement of Certain Buildings, which is set to take effect on December 17, 2026.

Facade of Eunpyeong-gu Office. Provided by Eunpyeong-gu.

This special act is a system that allows small-scale residential buildings that meet certain conditions and violate building regulations to obtain temporary usage approval. It will be effective for 18 months, from the implementation date of December 17, 2026 to June 16, 2028.

The targets for legalization are buildings that were essentially completed as of December 31, 2023. This applies to cases where more than 50% of the total floor area is used for residential purposes and the buildings were constructed without permission or reports, or where unauthorized extensions, major repairs, or changes of use have been made.

However, meeting the requirements does not mean automatic legalization. A comprehensive review of the building's purpose, area, structural safety, evacuation and fire prevention features, access roads, parking lots, and land use rights is required. Architectural drawings and site investigation reports prepared by an architect must also be submitted. The specific scope of application by size, required documents, and review criteria will be finalized through the enforcement decree and guidelines from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

Prior to the implementation of the system, Eunpyeong District will send out information leaflets containing the procedures and requirements to eligible building owners starting in October. The Consultation Center for Legalization of Building Violations, which has been operated once a week, will increase to twice a week from November. Consultations will be available every Monday and Wednesday from 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

District Mayor Mikyung Kim stated, "With the implementation of this special act, small-scale residential buildings meeting certain conditions will have a temporary opportunity to obtain usage approval," adding, "We will actively support this initiative to help protect residents' property rights and enhance residential stability."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.