FAQ

Why is there a discrepancy between the regulation lines and the cadastral boundaries of the cadastral map?

Due to the use of different methods, such as - the cadastral map was made by direct measurements in digital form and the regulation plan was approved and digitalized in the period 2000-2006 / 7, there could be a discrepancy between the regulation lines and the cadastral boundaries of the cadastral map. In such a situation, you should contact a qualified person within the meaning of the CPRA for consultation.

What does it mean the regulation line to match the cadastral boundary?

The encryption of regulatory plans is done by scanning, digitizing and vectorizing the originals according to the approved by the chief architect of the Sofia Munisipality technology. The chart of the regulation plans is in line with the digital version of the cadastral plan, which served as a basis for the development plan. Matching can only be established when the cadastral plan (map) has served as the basis for the regulation plan, when it is clear from the graph that the regulation line is drawn on the property boundary.

What is needed to divide/split a plot of land?

Splitting a plot of land from the cadastral plan /cadastral map / which belongs to one person or several persons co-owners is realized through the formation of other plots of land from the primary one. Splitting a plot of land from the cadastral plan /cadastral map / which belongs to one person or several persons co-owners is realized through the formation of other plots of land from the primary one. When the division is of a plot of land owned on a co-ownership basis , the legal status of co-ownership does not translate into real property. The co-ownership of the separated new plots of land remains as is.  

Splitting a co-owned plot of land is to be done after a legal transaction of voluntary division is done or if a court division is carried out.

When carrying out the splitting/division of a plot of land, the latter must be available in the cadastral plan/cadastral map. If that property is not included in the cadastral plan/cadastral map or is incorrectly /imprecisely written in a view of its real state and its cadastral features as regards the area/ for differences over the statutory determined area / and configuration , it is necessary to consider the following:

If the plot of land existed before the cadastral plan/cadastral map came into force, and at the time of their approval, the former was not written in at all or was not written in its actual state, a proceeding for removing gaps and errors in the cadastral plan/cadastral map should be started.

One of the mandatory normative documents for division/splitting of land is the so-called sketch - a draft for an amendment of the cadastral plan/cadastral map. Drawing up sketches - draft amendments of the cadastral plan/cadastral map can be done by any person qualified to perform activities involving the cadastre, including GIS-Sofia Ltd.

Where can you make a reference check or obtain a sketch for a plot of land which falls within the territory which has an approved and put into force cadastral map and cadastral registers /CMCR/?

After the CMCR are approved and enter into force for the respective area, all reference checks, services and documents are made, respectively prepared by the Agency of Geodesy, Cartography and Cadastre and its territorial units - the local offices of the Agency of Geodesy, Cartography and Cadastre.

Who can issue a site plan for a plot of land which falls within a territory for which there is still no approved CMCR?

Depending on the status of the property site plans are issued by the following administrative bodies:

  •  For properties in a regulated territory site plans are issued by the district municipal administrations.
  •  For properties in an unregulated territory site plans are issued by the Office for Territorial and Spatial Planning within the Department of Architecture and Urban Planning of Sofia Municipality.
  • For agricultural land, forests and forestland site plans are issued by the Municipal Offices of Agriculture (former Land Commissions).

Who can issue a site plan for a plot of land which falls within a territory for which there is still no approved CMCR?

Depending on the status of the property site plans are issued by the following administrative bodies:

  •  For properties in a regulated territory site plans are issued by the district municipal administrations.
  •  For properties in an unregulated territory site plans are issued by the Office for Territorial and Spatial Planning within the Department of Architecture and Urban Planning of Sofia Municipality.
  • For agricultural land, forests and forestland site plans are issued by the Municipal Offices of Agriculture (former Land Commissions).

What is the certificate of identicality for? What is it required for?

The certificate of identicality is a text, a descriptive part of the graphic image of composite plans for complete or partial identicality of the boundaries of a plot of land. The certificate of identicality is a document provided as an additional service of GIS-Sofia Ltd. for the development of composite plans for complete or partial identicality of the boundaries of a plot of land. In appropriate cases, the certificate of identicality describes the document/s from which the respective person derives their property rights. In these cases, if in the title deed, for example, the person has acquired ownership rights on the property, which is individualized according to a previous regulation or cadastral plan, what takes place is an actual attachment of his rights to the property subject to the plans and its actual characteristics. In most cases, the certificate of identicality, together with the composite plans for complete or partial identicality of the boundaries of a plot of land is required for the issuance of a site plan, planning permission site sketch, an alteration in the cadastral plan/cadastral map from the competent administrative authorities.

What needs to be done if is necessary to amend the cadastral plan/CMCR and where?

Reasons for changing the cadastral plan/CMCR can be:

  • dividing, splitting and annexing plots of land;
  • diving and annexing buildings or independent units therein;
  • corrections of incomplete entries and errors;
  • applying current detailed spatial and urban plans and amendments thereto;
  • changing the boundaries of plots of land as a result of changing the boundaries of the administrative-territorial units, of land borders and the of borders of territories with equal permanent use;
  • erected buildings, buildings extended to the side and upwards, demolished buildings, as well as converted buildings or independent units therein;
  • change in the function, in the method of permanent use and in the addresses of the properties;
  • change in the data regarding the rights of ownership and other real property rights and their holders;
  • change in the boundaries of plots of land by mutual consent of the owners;
  • execution of a final court ruling in a dispute over land boundaries of plots of land or territorial units.

If the amendment is carried out in a territory with an effective CMCR, the competent administrative authority conducting the administrative procedure and approval of the amendment is the head of the territorial Department of Geodesy, Cartography and Cadastre within whose catchment area the property is located. If the property is in a territory in which has no approved CMCR, the competent administrative authority conducting the administrative procedure and approval of the amendment is the Mayor of area in whose catchment area the property is located.

The procedure starts by filing in an application from the person in question or a person authorized by them to the competent administrative authority. The content of the application and the required documents which apply to it are described in section 58 of Regulation No. 3 from 28.04.2005 for the content, creation and maintenance of the cadastral map and the cadastral registers.
In the case of diving, splitting and annexing plots of land; correcting incomplete entries and errors; applying current detailed spatial and urban plans and amendments thereto; changing the boundaries of plots of land by mutual consent of the owners, a project site plan is drawn up and attached for an amendment in the cadastral plan/cadastral map. This map can be prepared by any person certified to work with the cadastre, including GIS-Sofia Ltd.

What needs to be done for the recovery of agricultural land within the boundaries of urban areas?

Administrative proceedings are terminated by a decision of the Municipal Office of Agriculture within whose catchment area the property is located. In order to receive such a decision the respective person needs to submit an application form to the district municipal administration and provide written evidence of ownership or a declaration with a notary-certified signature, etc. according to the regulations of the Agricultural Land Ownership and Use Act /ALOUA/, a site plan according to Art.13, Par. 6 of the Rules for the Implementation of the Agricultural Land Ownership and Use Act /RIALOUA/ and the certificate according to Art.13 , Par. 5 of the same Rules. The site plan according to Art.13, Par.6 of RIALOUA is issued by the technical department of the municipality. On the basis of its contractual obligations with Sofia Municipality GIS-Sofia Ltd. provides a service in benefit to interested persons, which consist of technical activities on the site plan according to Art.13, Par.6 of RIALOUA.

What documents are needed to obtain an address/ an address certificate?

Documents required to obtain an address:

  • an application form or an application in free writing
  • copy of a proof of ownership/cession of the right of construction
  • copy of an up-to-date site plan of the property/up to 6 months prior/
  • copy of a building permit/act of legalization

 Documents required to obtain an address certificate:

  • no provision of documents - the certificate is prepared on the basis of data available in the Geographic Information System of Sofia
  • if copies of a title deed and other documents are provided in which the property or its address are described - the certificate is issued after completing the necessary surveys and preparing the necessary document for the client.

Where is the application for determining an address filed in?

According to a procedure stipulated by the Municipality of Sofia in Art.89, Par.5 of the Civil Registration Act, applications from individuals and legal entities for determining civil addresses are to be filed solely in the offices of the regional administrations.

GIS–Sofia Ltd. accepts applications and provides the service for determining of a new address for properties built for non-residential purposes.

How do we track the previous state of aerial photos of buildings or properties?

A photograph of a territory gives a rich visual representation of its condition at a particular moment. After transformation and georeferencing, the image carries geometrically accurate and true spatial information. Available archival aerial photographs establish the previous status of properties and / or buildings, allowing various disputes to be settled. For this purpose, the following shall be designed:

- combined sketch of cadastral and regulatory plans, other graphic data and orthophoto plans from different years, which is a kind of expertise for the chronological condition of buildings and properties;

- sampling of an orthophoto plan for the same territory, taken by airplane at different times;

- vectorizing buildings, property borders and other clearly visible objects on the photographs;

- technical expertise.

The archival photographs for the territory of Bulgaria are stored in the Military-Geographical Service (HCV) or in the Geocartfund of the AUCC. GIS-Sofia Ltd. has aerial photographs from 2006, 2008 and 2011 for the territory of Sofia Municipality.

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