Rural & Agricultural — Italy
Condono edilizio, unauthorised structures, zona agricola restrictions, and due diligence for Italian rural property.
Updated February 2026
Italy
The Condono Edilizio is Italy's recurring building amnesty system, which allows property owners to retrospectively legalise construction that was carried out without planning permission. Three national condoni have been enacted:
What condono means for buyers
A successful condono application means the previously unauthorised structure or works are legally regularised. The property can be sold normally, and the works are no longer an obstacle to transfer.
Due diligence questions to ask
- 1.Are there any condono applications on the property? Have they been fully granted (concessione in sanatoria)?
- 2.Are there any outstanding abusi edilizi (unauthorised works) that have NOT been covered by condono?
- 3.Are all buildings on the property — including outbuildings, pool houses, and annexes — correctly registered?
Red flags
- Pending condono applications not yet granted — a sale is possible but creates legal uncertainty
- Structures built after 2003 without permits that cannot be covered by existing condoni
- Works in paesaggio-protected areas, which may not be eligible for condono even if built before the relevant date
Practical tip
A geometra will identify discrepancies between the official building permits and the physical reality. This is not optional for rural property in Italy.
Based on Legge 47/1985, Legge 724/1994, Legge 326/2003
Last reviewed: Feb 2026