Amendments Were Made to the Regulation on the Protection and Use of Agricultural Lands

Under the new regulation issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the minimum plot size requirement of 50 acre for the construction of vineyard cottages and similar agricultural structures on land designated for specialised crops and marginal agricultural land has been reduced to 20 acre. The amendment, which is of particular interest to landowners and investors, has entered into force following its publication in the Official Gazette.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has introduced a critical legislative amendment that directly affects agricultural investment, land management and rural development. The “Regulation Amending the Regulation on the Protection and Use of Agricultural Land”, which is of great interest to millions of farmers and citizens planning to invest in rural areas for agricultural production, was published in the Official Gazette dated 4 August 2026 and has officially come into force.

Conditions for the Construction of Agricultural Structures Have Been Relaxed

This new regulation, which has long been on the agenda of sector stakeholders involved in land management planning, introduces significant simplifications in the construction criteria for agricultural structures, providing much-needed breathing space for producers and investors.

A notable update has been made to Annex 1 of the Regulation, titled ‘Criteria for Structures for Agricultural Purposes’, which forms the basis for building permits. The land size limit, previously set at a very high level for the construction of structures supporting agricultural activities, has been lowered to a more accessible level under the new Regulation.

Limit Reduced from 5 Hectares to 2 Hectares

The most notable provision of the amendment is the reduction in the minimum land area requirement. Under the new regulations, the minimum land area required for the construction of vineyard cottages, storage buildings or similar structures for agricultural purposes on land designated for specialised crops and marginal agricultural land has been reduced from 5 hectares to 2 hectares (50 acre to 20 acre).