Renovation in Serbia · Contractors · Updated November 2026
Renovating in Serbia in 2027: what expats should know before hiring a contractor
Short answer
Serbia does not license most tradespeople the way Canada or the UK does, so references and a written contract matter more than a certificate. Painting, new floors and like-for-like replacements usually need no permit, but moving walls, changing installations or touching the facade needs approval from the local building authority under the Law on Planning and Construction. The Law on Obligations requires a building contract to be in writing, and the contractor answers for the soundness of the work for ten years.
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Facts checked 1 November 2026.
How does the contractor market in Serbia work?
Hiring a contractor is one of the first practical jobs many expats face in Serbia. The market works differently from North America, the UK or Western Europe. Knowing how it works saves time, money and stress.
No licence for most trades. In Serbia, licences are aimed at engineers, designers and building companies. Painters, tilers and many fitters learn on the job, often from family or older colleagues. Some are excellent. Others take a deposit and disappear. A certificate will not tell you which is which.
Word of mouth decides. The best tradespeople often work only through referrals and do not advertise. Expats without a local network usually meet the ones who are easiest to find, not the ones who are best.
Registered or not. A contractor who runs a registered business appears in the Business Registers Agency (APR) register and can issue a proper invoice. A VAT-registered contractor adds VAT, which is 20 % at the standard rate (PwC, 2026). Cash jobs with no invoice leave you with little proof if something goes wrong.
Language. Even a skilled, honest contractor can misunderstand a specification given in broken English. Wrong tiles, wrong sockets and unrecorded changes are common results.
Which renovation works need a permit in Serbia?
Serbia’s Law on Planning and Construction splits works into three groups. Which group your project falls into decides what paperwork is needed before anyone starts.
| Type of work | What is usually needed | Who decides |
|---|---|---|
| Painting, new floor or wall coverings, new sanitary ware, radiators, doors and windows, like-for-like installations | Usually no permit ("current maintenance", Art. 144). The building manager is told before work starts. | No approval needed if the facade and shared parts are untouched |
| Adaptation, bigger maintenance and energy upgrades | An approval decision for the works (Art. 145), with technical documents | The local building authority |
| Moving or removing walls, merging or splitting flats, changing use, new installations, facade changes, structural work | Approval or a building permit, with designs from licensed engineers, filed in the state e-permit system (CEOP) | The local building authority |
| Work on shared parts of an apartment building | Often the consent of the residents’ association as well | The residents’ association and the local authority |
A change from August 2026 (Official Gazette 80/2026): works that need an approval now also need an approved plan for handling construction and demolition waste. Rules can change again in 2027.
Why it has to be right: building without a required approval can be a criminal offence for both the owner and the contractor (Criminal Code), and a building inspector can stop the work. Unapproved changes also cause trouble later when you sell, rent out or register the property. A contractor who says a permit is “never needed” for work that moves walls or installations is a warning sign.
What does Serbian law say about building contracts?
Many jobs in Serbia, even large ones, still run on a handshake. The law expects more. Under the Law on Obligations, a contract for building works must be made in writing, and the contractor is liable for defects that affect the soundness of the work for ten years after handover.
A written contract does not need to be long. What matters is that it is clear. A good one usually covers:
- a written quote with the full scope
- a materials list with brands
- start and end dates
- payment stages
- how changes are agreed
- a warranty period
Why it has to be right: without a written scope, a dispute becomes your word against theirs, in a language you may not speak. Owners who are abroad are hit hardest.
How are contractors usually paid in Serbia?
There is no law that sets how renovation is paid in stages. In recent cases, staged payments have been the norm on well-run projects: a deposit for materials, payments tied to finished stages, and a final payment after you sign off the work.
Paying the full price before work starts removes your only leverage. Treat a contractor who insists on it with caution. Keep every invoice and bank transfer record, because they are your proof of what was paid.
How much does renovation cost in Serbia heading into 2027?
These are typical market ranges in Belgrade and Novi Sad in recent cases, not our prices. They depend on size, specification and materials.
| Project | Typical cost | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| Renovation per square metre | €300–€800 | Depends on scope |
| Kitchen or bathroom | From about €5,000 | 3–6 weeks |
| Full apartment | €10,000 for a basic refresh to €80,000+ for a premium overhaul | 8–16 weeks |
Much cheaper quotes exist. They often mean no written scope, unverified materials and no warranty. The contractor’s written quote sets the schedule and we don’t promise a date. Approvals from the local authority add their own time on top.
Our renovation service gives you one English-speaking contact, vetted architects and contractors, written quotes before work starts and weekly photo updates, in Belgrade, Novi Sad and across Serbia. You contract and pay the contractor directly. You deal with the people who do the work.
What goes wrong most often when expats hire contractors?
The same problems come up again and again:
Once all the money is paid, there is little reason for a weak contractor to finish on time or fix problems.
Scope, materials and dates are agreed by phone and remembered differently by each side.
Moving a wall or an installation without approval can lead to a stop order and problems when you sell.
Site safety is often less visible than in North America or the UK. It is fair to agree basics such as power isolation, dust control and protection of shared areas.
For a renovation file, owners usually need, each matching the others:
- proof of ownership from the cadastre
- a floor plan
- a written quote
- a materials list
- designs from a licensed engineer if approval is needed
- the approval itself before work starts
Moving to Serbia too? Get the free Serbia Relocation Checklist. Renting first? See our guide to renting in Serbia.
Buying a flat to renovate: what about unregistered works?
Many Serbian buildings have extensions, closed balconies or attic flats that were never approved. In 2025 Serbia passed a law known as “Svoj na svome” so owners could register such buildings. Applications ran from 8 December 2025 to 8 February 2026, with late filing allowed until 24 October 2026, and about 2.7 million applications came in (Republic Geodetic Authority, October 2026).
For a buyer, this means the cadastre record and the real flat may not match. Whether past works were approved or registered matters before you buy and before you renovate. More in our guide for foreigners buying property in Serbia, and for trade businesses see starting a construction business in Serbia.
Who decides building approvals in Serbia?
The local building authority, part of the city or municipal administration, decides approvals and building permits under the Law on Planning and Construction. Building inspectors check works on site. The Republic Geodetic Authority keeps the cadastre. No agency or contractor can promise an approval or a date.
Relocation Serbia, with offices in Belgrade and Novi Sad, is one team for residence, company setup, property and renovation coordination. We work with vetted, licensed professionals; the authorities decide.
A good first step is the €49 Relocation Roadmap (credited toward any package within 90 days — see pricing). It maps your route, papers and timing.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit to renovate an apartment in Serbia in 2027?
Not for painting, new floors or like-for-like replacements. Moving walls, changing installations, changing use or touching the facade needs an approval or a building permit. Rules can change in 2027.
Are contractors in Serbia licensed?
Engineers, designers and building companies hold licences. Most painters, tilers and fitters do not, so references and a written contract matter more.
Does a building contract in Serbia have to be in writing?
Yes. The Law on Obligations requires a contract for building works to be in writing.
How long does a renovation take in Serbia?
In recent cases a kitchen or bathroom took 3–6 weeks and a full apartment 8–16 weeks. The contractor’s written quote sets the schedule.
Who decides whether my renovation needs a permit?
The local building authority, under the Law on Planning and Construction. Relocation Serbia coordinates the project; the authority decides.
Updated November 2026 · Relocation Serbia. General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules can change.