Deadline Approaching for Unkempt Plots – Hefty Fines

Within the next few days, specifically by June 15, private owners must have cleared their plots of land, and they must also ensure that the completion has been declared on the corresponding platform at https://akatharista.apps.gov.gr/.

The cleaning process began on April 1, and failure to carry it out will result in fines.

The maintenance of cleanliness must be ensured until the end of October. This includes the removal of all flammable materials, such as dry grass, branches, and shrubs, from any private plot or uncovered space.

Mandatory declaration of the cleaning work must be submitted to the National Registry for Preventive Fire Protection Measures for Properties by June 15.

What the Required Cleaning Includes

Logging and removal of dry and broken trees and branches, as well as branches in direct contact with buildings.
Removal of flammable plant material on the ground surface, such as leaf litter, dry grass, and fallen branches.
Pruning of tree bases and increasing the height of lower branches from the ground, depending on the tree’s age and type.
Thinning of shrub vegetation relative to ground coverage.
Removal of any other abandoned combustible, flammable, explosive materials, objects, or waste.

Exemptions

Exempt from this obligation are landscaped, maintained gardens or planted areas of uncovered spaces in buildings, apartment complexes, etc.

Owners must ensure safe collection and transport of all cleaning residues. Abandonment, disposal, or uncontrolled handling is prohibited.

Fines for Failure to Clean Plots

Owners who fail to submit the declaration are subject to:

A fine of 500 euros if no cleaning actions have been taken.
A fine of 100 euros if cleaning has been done but not declared.
Submitting a false declaration to the Registry is punishable with a fine of 5,000 euros and imprisonment of at least six months.

In cases where electronic submission is impossible due to objective reasons such as age, disability, or force majeure, the declaration may be submitted physically at the local Citizens Service Center or the competent fire service and forwarded to the Fire Service’s Directorate of Preventive Fire Protection.

In any case of non-compliance with the cleaning and maintenance obligation during the fire prevention period, the municipality may impose or assign the following to the owner(s):

A fine of 1.00 euro per square meter, with a minimum of 200 euros and a maximum of 2,000 euros.
The cost of cleaning and removal of materials if the municipality performs the cleaning.

Request for Extension

Meanwhile, POMIDA (Panhellenic Federation of Property Owners) requested an extension of the cleaning and declaration deadline to June 30, citing difficulties in hiring cleaning crews, recent rainfall, and the distance of some plots from owners’ residences.

The letter emphasizes that the main goal is the cleaning of plots, not the imposition of fines, and formally requests that the deadline for cleaning and declaration on the platform be extended at least until June 30, 2026.

Signed:
Stratos Paradias – President
Tasos Vappas – Secretary General