Greece issued 2,873 building permits in July 2026, 8.3% fewer than in July 2025, according to provisional data from the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) published on 27 October 2026. The building volume they cover fell faster, by 24.3%.
The July permits covered 623,858 m² of surface area, down 15.0% on a year earlier, and 2.69 million m³ of volume. Private building accounted for 2,846 permits, down 8.7%, with surface area down 15.6% and volume down 24.9%. Public works made up 27 permits and 2.2% of the month’s volume.
| All permits | July 2026 | Change vs July 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Permits (number) | 2,873 | -8.3% |
| Surface area (m²) | 623,858 | -15.0% |
| Volume (m³) | 2,687,283 | -24.3% |
The 12-month picture
Over the 12 months from August 2025 to July 2026, Greece issued 31,446 permits, up 7.9% from 29,132 a year earlier, ELSTAT says. Surface area rose 10.6% to 7.21 million m², and volume rose 14.1% to 34.07 million m³.
Every region issued more permits over the 12 months except Western Macedonia, down 7.0%. The North Aegean led with 18.9%, followed by the Ionian Islands at 13.4% and Epirus at 13.3%. Crete and Central Greece both rose 11.9%.
Attica, the largest market, recorded 6,966 permits, up 7.2%, with volume up 14.8%. In the South Aegean, which includes the Cyclades and the Dodecanese, permits rose 8.0% and volume 10.7%. Volume fell most in the Peloponnese, by 16.2%, and Central Greece, by 15.6%, and also dipped in Epirus, by 9.4%, and the Ionian Islands, by 1.0%.
What it means for buyers
Permits are an early signal of future supply, since new buildings reach the market well after approval. One weak month does not change the 12-month trend, which still shows more permits than a year earlier. The July figures are provisional and say nothing about completions or sale prices. Our June permits report has the previous month’s figures.
