Inspections begin for unmaintained plots – Fines from €100 to €5,000 and possible jail time

The deadline for cleaning plots expired on Monday, June 22. Property owners, usufruct holders, tenants, and subtenants were required to clear their properties and keep them maintained throughout the entire wildfire season.

Starting today, Tuesday, June 23, inspections will be carried out by municipalities and the Fire Service, while reports submitted by citizens will also be taken into account.

Once cleaning work has been completed, property owners must declare the cleaning through the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection’s online platform, akatharista.apps.gov.gr. Declarations may also be submitted through Citizen Service Centers (KEP) and Fire Service offices in cases of objective inability to use the platform.

According to the President of the Fire Service Officers’ Union, inspections are being prioritized in high-risk areas through cooperation between municipalities and the Fire Service. Municipalities are also required to clean plots where necessary, with the associated costs charged to the responsible parties.

He noted that some municipalities are still completing the necessary interventions, while particular emphasis is being placed on cooperation among all involved authorities.

Regarding the Fire Service’s role, he clarified that its responsibility is to investigate complaints, while fines and violation reports are imposed by local municipal authorities. The relevant information is then forwarded to the Ministry of Finance through the competent services.

Special attention is being given to areas where urban and forest zones coexist, Natura network sites, locations near critical infrastructure, and areas where accumulated combustible material could contribute to the outbreak or spread of wildfires.

Referring to the inspections beginning on June 23, Deputy Minister for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Evangelos Tournas stated that municipalities hold primary responsibility, assisted by local Fire Service units. Inspections will be conducted within their jurisdictions to identify uncleared plots and implement the prescribed procedures for fines and mandatory cleanups where necessary.

Fines and Penalties for Unmaintained Plots

Under the relevant Joint Ministerial Decision (KYA), the following penalties apply:

• €500 fine if neither cleaning nor declaration has been completed.
• €100 fine if the plot has been cleaned but no declaration has been submitted.
• Fine of €1 per square meter for failure to clean a plot or open space, with a minimum penalty of €200 and a maximum of €2,000.
• Municipal cleanup at the owner’s expense, with all related costs charged to the responsible party.
• Criminal penalties for false declarations, including imprisonment of at least six months and a €5,000 fine.
• What the Required Cleanup Includes

The obligations mainly concern:

• Areas within city plans.
• Areas within settlement boundaries.
• Land located within 100 meters of such areas, provided it is not subject to forest legislation.

Required cleanup works include:

• Removal of dry vegetation and plant debris.
• Pruning of trees and thinning of shrubs.
• Collection and transportation of cleanup materials.
• Removal of flammable materials and waste.
• Maintaining a low combustible fuel load throughout the high wildfire-risk period.