Overview of Fire Land Clearing Regulations in Greece (2026)

Date: 25/04/2026

Overview of Fire Land Clearing Regulations in Greece (2026)

This year, Greece implemented stricter regulations for landowners on plot maintenance to prevent wildfires. These changes include new deadlines for removing combustible materials and submitting mandatory cleaning declarations, as well as increased penalties for non-compliance. These regulations aim to improve public safety and reduce the risk of wildfires, placing significant responsibility on property owners.

Key Regulations

Mandatory Clearing Period: April 1 to May 31 each year

Declaration Submission Deadline: By June 15 each year

Financial Penalties

Failure to clear land €1 per square metre (minimum €200)

Failure to submit a declaration incurs a €500 fee if not cleaned, and a €100 fee if cleaned but not declared.

Responsibilities of Landowners

Landowners must ensure their plots are cleared of combustible materials, including:

Dry trees and branches
Flammable debris like leaves and grass
Dense shrubbery that poses a fire risk

Additionally, they must dispose of waste responsibly and maintain cleared areas throughout the fire season, which runs from May 1 to October 31.

Municipalities retain responsibility for inspections and may perform forced cleanings if owners fail to comply, and may charge the owner for the costs.

Exemption

Landscaped or well-maintained gardens around buildings are exempt from the land-clearing requirements. If a property already has a properly maintained garden—meaning vegetation is trimmed, dry material is removed, and the area does not pose a fire risk—then no additional clearing is required.

This exemption applies to:

Private homes with maintained gardens
Apartment complexes with managed green areas
Commercial properties with professionally maintained landscaping

These areas are considered already compliant with fire safety regulations

However, even if a property has a well-maintained garden and is exempt from the cleaning obligation, the owner must still submit the annual declaration..

For apartment complexes with managed green areas, the building administrator or management company typically submits the declaration.

For commercial properties with professionally maintained landscaping, the legal representative or property manager submits it.