The paperwork you need for a building permit

Step zero: the urbanism certificate

It is not a permit and it does not let you build. It tells you what you are allowed to do on that plot and which approvals you will be asked for. You request it from the city hall and it is usually issued within 30 days.

What you file, in order

1. the standard permit application form
2. the title deed and an up-to-date land registry extract
3. the urbanism certificate, still within its validity
4. the approvals EXPLICITLY listed in the certificate (electricity, water, gas, environment, fire safety — as the case may be)
5. the design for the authorisation of works, signed by a certified designer
6. proof of paid fees

Where the time actually goes

Into the approvals. Every utility has its own deadline and they can be requested in parallel rather than one after another, which is what usually happens. Start with the slowest one (typically environment or fire safety).

How long it lasts

The permit is valid 12 months from issue, works must start within that window, and it can be extended once. Notifying the state inspectorate and the city hall about the start of works is not optional.