Romanian minister rules out tenfold taxes on closed balconies

Minister rejects tenfold tax claims

Development Minister Alexandru Stoica spoke publicly on Friday, 30 October, to rebut rumours that owners of enclosed balconies would face punitive tax increases. He said the state's aim should be to help people get their paperwork in order rather than to fine them, and a Facebook post he made was reported on 31 October.

“I want to be very clear: Romanians will not pay tenfold taxes, nor will their tax be doubled for closed balconies.”

Legal path for existing enclosures

The new Urbanism Code, adopted as Law no. 169/2026 and in force since 25 August 2026, does not apply retroactively. According to G4Media's account of Stoica's Antena 3 CNN interview, owners who closed balconies before the code took effect therefore do not risk fines. They must still bring the enclosures into legal order and then pay the normal tax, as they do for the floor area of the flat itself. To do so, they need an architect's project approved by the local authority, and Stoica added that town halls could fine owners who refuse to regularise.

“Nobody will be harassed or punished for a balcony they closed in good faith.”

Respite until August 2027

Stoica said the code gives a respite until August 2027 to find a solution, so that owners hold documents in order for sale, inheritance or a loan. He said he did not want people put out on the street over paperwork from 15 years ago, nor forced into costly expenses. The ministry will analyse all the problems reported.

Renovation works and drafting criticism

Stoica said some tenants found their balconies closed during building envelope works, and that responsibility for permits and cadastre registration lay with town halls, not citizens. He also criticised how the code was drafted, saying it was done in haste because it is a Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) milestone. The ministry will send Parliament an analysis of the identified problems as a technical basis for amending the law.