Menu
Log in

FOR CLIENTS, OWNERS
AND DEVELOPERS

What is the certifier's fee?

The certifier gives a quote for the certification based on the size and complexity of the work, which is regulated by Government Decree 282/2024. (IX. 30.) and includes the daily certification fee and travel costs.

How long does certification take?

  • The geospatial survey is subject to a prior aerial activity permit, which is applied for by the geospatial surveying company. The processing time of the competent authority can be up to 60 days. Therefore, the certification request must be started at least 110 days before the planned submission of the application for the occupancy permit!
  • Geospatial survey and processing of the data obtained from the survey by the geospatial surveyor: 8 days from the date of the drone survey.
  • Certification – within 10 days of receipt of the completed geospatial data
    • Preliminary data check by the certifier: checking the legal requirements, the location of the plot and any protection status based on the property data uploaded to the system.
    • On-site survey by the certifier: the time required may vary depending on the size of the plot and its vegetation cover, but under the relevant legislation it is no more than 2 days.
  • Authentication of the certificate – 1 day after payment of the certifier.
 

When is it advisable to order certification?

Based on the above, certification should be ordered at least 91 days before the completion of the green space construction works, but to ensure smooth organisation it may be justified to order it even earlier, indicating the planned date of submitting the application for the occupancy permit or, in the case of an activity not subject to a permit, the planned date of the technical handover, which the client can modify in the system if it changes.

For the Green Space Certificate to be completed before the planned submission of the application for the occupancy permit, the certification request must be indicated in the system at least 110 days earlier. After the planned completion of the construction works, at least 20 days are therefore needed to carry out the certification process, so the planned date for submitting the application for the occupancy permit must be determined with this in mind.

At the end of the occupancy permit and technical handover procedures, the certificate of completion can only be issued if the plot belonging to the new structure or landscape architecture work has a Green Space Certificate with at least a “C” rating.

What happens if no green space certification was prepared for an investment?

If the investment is subject to the green space certification obligation and the certification is not carried out on the plot or plots concerned, or no certificate with at least a medium rating is prepared, the investment cannot obtain an occupancy permit, and the technical handover of the landscape architecture work cannot take place.

How can it be ensured that the project reaches the green space certification level required for the occupancy permit?

  • Efforts must be made to retain the established vegetation on the plot(s) during design (terrain shaping, positioning of the building on the plot, etc.) and to protect it during the planning, organisation and execution of the construction works.
  • If there is no established green space on the plot(s), or the existing established green space cannot be retained or is of poor quality (e.g. due to the presence of invasive species), it must be replaced with multi-layered vegetation as well as green roofs and green walls, so that green spaces of adequate quality can be ensured.
  • The aim should be to create multi-layered green spaces, using varied vegetation that, where possible, fits the character of the landscape.
  • The green spaces created provide habitat, shelter and food for native fauna and insects. Objects placed for this purpose (e.g. insect hotels, bird and bat boxes, lizard shelters, bird baths, bird-friendly shrubberies, etc.) are assessed positively when present in larger numbers.
  • The aim should be to retain/create at least 30% canopy cover and to prevent the development of the heat-island effect.
  • Ideally, the plot is surrounded by a hedge along the fence. The shrub layer and the perennial layer should each exceed 10% of the green spaces.
  • Precipitation falling on green spaces should infiltrate into the green space. Precipitation falling on paving and roofs should be used on site.
  • Invasive plants should not occur in the area. The presence of invasive plants has a negative impact on the score of the Green Space Certificate.
  • Green spaces (shrub and perennial areas) should be mulched, there should be no open soil surface, and green waste should be managed on site.
  • If community use of green space takes place on at least part of the plot, or there is a community planting, this is assessed positively.
  • Annual flower beds have a negative impact on the score of the Green Space Certificate; it is advisable to limit them to the most representative locations and to combine them with perennials, or to replace them with other decorative vegetation.
  • To achieve the above goals, have the design tasks carried out by a landscape architect.
  • A site-specific green space maintenance manual should be prepared for the area by the landscape architect.

Which legal requirements does the Green Space Certificate examine compliance with separately?

  • Compliance with the settlement plan and the national green space regulations
    • Minimum green space ratio
    • Minimum/maximum distance of trees (from each other, from the plot boundary, from the façade)
    • Minimum number of trees
    • Layering
  • Compliance with the green space provisions contained in permits related to the investment (building, environmental, nature conservation, heritage protection, etc.)
  • Compliance with the requirement for the biological activity value
  • Compliance with the requirements for establishing a protective forest
 

Parameters applicable when designing a building that have a positive effect on the assessment of the Green Space Certificate

  • Creating a green roof
  • Thanks to the extremely wide range of options, green walls and green façades can be created on almost any building and, in addition to their ecological benefits (e.g. improving the microclimate and air quality, increasing biodiversity), they also provide technical benefits (rainwater management, noise and thermal protection).
  • Drainage of precipitation based on the following aspects:
    • collection of rainwater falling on the roof and its use within the plot (as grey water, for irrigation)
    • rainwater falling on roof surfaces and roads is led to green spaces after treatment / its use within the plot is ensured (infiltration, irrigation)
 

Which quantitative aspects does the Green Space Certificate examine?

  • Total area of green space
  • Height of green space
  • Green volume (at tree, shrub, perennial and lawn level)
  • Number of trees
  • Green space ratio
  • Green volume ratio
  • Coverage
  • Open soil surface
 

Which qualitative aspects does the Green Space Certificate examine?

  • Biodiversity
  • Presence of invasive species and proportion of infested area
  • Habitat creation
  • Presence of protected plants
  • Presence of annual ornamental plants
  • Stormwater management
  • Green façade, green wall, green roof
  • Factors contributing to the heat-island effect
 

Which functional aspects does the Green Space Certificate examine?

  • Social and community planting in the area
  • Public accessibility of the area, community use of green space

What should be done if there is no established tree stock on the plot and young trees have to be newly planted?

In this case, achieving a favourable green volume can be supported by including trees of nursery size 10/12 or larger, as well as mature, large shrubs and perennial areas. If the canopy cover is low, shrubs and perennials can quickly achieve a result that can ensure a medium rating for the certificate.

A varied species composition is recommended at all vegetation levels because, for example, if the garden is planted with only a few species, the green volume may receive a favourable score in the case of large plants, but the lack of biodiversity results in a deduction of points.

What should be done in the case of a plot with ancient trees or established tree stock that can also be preserved?

High canopy cover is favourable in terms of green volume; however, if the shrub and lawn layers are sparse, the plot receives a lower score due to open soil surface and poor biodiversity, so the open soil surface must be covered with species-rich, shade-tolerant ground-cover vegetation, and shade-tolerant shrubs must be used in the shrub layer.

The detailed methodological description can be downloaded from the website by specialist designers.