Territorial Planning and Administrative-Territorial Structure Directorate

National Expertise Department
Head of Unit: Maria Naydenova

Department "Devices of Territory"
Head of Unit: Gabriela Kamenova 

Functions of the Directorate:
Assists the Minister in implementing the policy on spatial planning within its remit, in accordance with the Spatial Development Act, the Black Sea Coast Spatial Development Act, the Act on Maritime Spaces, Inland Waterways and Ports of the Republic of Bulgaria, and other legislation, as well as in coordinating the activities of central and territorial executive bodies, local self-government bodies, and local administrations;
Monitors the application of regulatory acts within its competence regarding spatial planning; makes proposals and—jointly with the relevant ministry directorates and other administrations—drafts regulatory acts concerning spatial planning, the country’s administrative-territorial organization, the decentralization of state governance, and the activities of local authorities, while also developing methodological guidelines for their implementation;
Prepares opinions on and reviews draft spatial plans and amendments thereto, in accordance with the Spatial Development Act, the Black Sea Coast Spatial Development Act, the Act on Maritime Spaces, Inland Waterways and Ports of the Republic of Bulgaria, and other legislation;
Prepares opinions on draft regulatory acts proposed by other state bodies concerning spatial planning, the country’s administrative-territorial organization, local self-government, and the decentralization of state governance; (amended – State Gazette No. 31 of 2019) Organizes and facilitates the activities of the National Expert Council on Spatial Planning and Regional Policy (NESUTRP) regarding the review of draft general and detailed spatial plans, the draft Marine Spatial Plan of the Republic of Bulgaria (MSPRB) and amendments thereto, as well as specific rules and standards applicable to them, in accordance with the Spatial Development Act, the Black Sea Coast Spatial Development Act, the Act on Maritime Spaces, Inland Waterways and Ports of the Republic of Bulgaria, etc.;
Assists the Minister in appointing specialized expert councils for specific sites related to national defense and security;
Assists the Minister in authorizing the preparation, adoption, and approval of:
a) general spatial plans for Black Sea municipalities and for settlement formations of national significance;
b) detailed spatial plans falling within his/her competence under the Spatial Development Act, the Act on Maritime Spaces, Inland Waterways and Ports of the Republic of Bulgaria, etc.;
Assists the Minister in the coordination and approval of investment projects and the issuance of building permits for sites falling within his/her competence under the Spatial Development Act, the Act on Maritime Spaces, Inland Waterways and Ports of the Republic of Bulgaria, etc.;
Assists the Minister in reviewing proposals from municipal councils regarding the authorization of deviations, under the conditions and pursuant to the procedures established by the regulatory acts falling within his/her competence; Assists the Minister in the registration and issuance of certificates for the commissioning of completed construction works, in accordance with the Minister's powers, and maintains a register of the issued certificates;
Maintains a register of technical passports for completed construction works for which the building permit was issued by the Minister of Regional Development and Public Works;
Organizes and maintains the NESUTRP archive and ensures access to it;
Reviews and prepares responses to proposals, complaints, and reports submitted by natural and legal persons regarding matters of spatial planning falling within the competence of the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works.
(amended – State Gazette No. 57 of 2020; repealed – State Gazette No. 81 of 2026)