Do I need a permit to repair or rebuild a war-damaged building in Lebanon?

Also asked as: “Can I rebuild my house destroyed in the war without a permit?” · “Permit to repair war damage in Lebanon” · “Do I need a building permit to fix a bombed house in Lebanon?” · “Rebuilding after the war in Lebanon: what approvals?”

Permit or declaration: which works need what#

The Building Law makes building, converting, renovating or renewing any building subject to a prior permit^[1]. Some works take a lighter route. Maintenance, retaining walls, plastering and renovation of lawful or regularised buildings need only a written declaration, signed by a responsible engineer, endorsed by the Order of Engineers and valid for one year. Structural strengthening and replacing roofs or balconies are allowed only in lawful or regularised buildings. For an ordinary renovation, see whether you need a permit to renovate.

The law does not say where war damage fits in this table. Your engineer and the municipality decide whether repairing a damaged slab or wall is declaration work or permit work. Get their answer in writing before work starts.

Rebuilding a destroyed building#

A permit is granted under the laws and zoning rules in force on the date it is granted^[2]. We found no published rule on whether a building destroyed in the war can be rebuilt to its old size or footprint if today's zoning is stricter. Before you pay for plans, ask the municipality and the Directorate General of Urban Planning what today's zoning allows on your plot.

Any permit application must include a soil-bearing study from a specialised soil-investigation office^[1]. We found no published cost for the study or for the declaration, so ask your engineer for a written quote. The general procedure is in the steps to get a building permit.

If the building is unsafe#

The owner must keep a building maintained, stable and sound^[1]. If its stability is impaired, the owner must shore it up temporarily under an engineer's supervision and notify the municipality, or the governor or caimacam, before permanent strengthening. If a building threatens to collapse and the owner does not act, it must be demolished within 15 days to 2 months, and the municipality may evacuate the occupants. In extreme urgency the warning period can be cut to one day on a sworn expert engineer's report.

In Beirut, LBCI reported in July 2026 that the Cabinet tasked the Higher Relief Commission (الهيئة العليا للإغاثة), with engineering offices and the Order of Engineers, to survey structurally damaged buildings so that residents of dangerous ones can receive temporary housing allowances^[4]. For specific Beirut buildings hit on "Black Wednesday", an engineering firm hired by the Commission found they could be reinforced and need not be demolished, and the file went to the Beirut governorate and municipality. That finding covers those buildings only. As of July 2026, nobody had settled who pays for the reinforcement.

What we could not find#

After the port explosion of 4 August 2020, Law 10/2022 exempted damaged properties under construction from construction-registration fees, on a Lebanese Army certificate. It also accepted a statement from an engineer with over 10 years' experience instead of a renovation permit^[5]. That rule was written for the Beirut blast. We found no comparable exemption, fee waiver or procedure for damage from the recent wars, and no rule outside the Beirut cases on who decides between reinforcing and demolishing.

In the south, Al Jazeera reported in October 2026 that Israel is discussing a "Grey Line" reaching possibly 4 km^[6] into Lebanon, as a buffer zone where civilians would not be allowed to rebuild. It is a reported proposal, and no source says which plots it would cover. Registering damage is a separate process: see how to claim for war damage.