Special Measures Act for Legalizing Illegal Buildings — Who Can Apply, Procedure and Costs

Procedure

1. 1. Check the current status

   Check the violation marking in the building register, the corrective order and the notice of the charge for compelling compliance, and the area, use and structure of the part in violation. With only the address, the notices and site photographs, the likely route can be sorted out first.

2. 2. Classify the route for resolving the violation

   Determine which route fits: legalization under the Special Act, a permit or report for extension or change of use under the Building Act, approval after partial demolition or reinforcement, or restoration to the original state. Non-residential uses, such as a rooftop storage room on a commercial building or factory, may not fit the structure of the Special Act.

3. 3. Gather evidence of the time of completion

   Prove that the building was effectively completed as of December 31, 2023 with aerial photographs, records of charges for compelling compliance imposed, corrective orders, construction contracts, lease contracts, electricity and water usage records and similar materials.

4. 4. Prepare the design documents and field survey report, and file the report

   A report under the Special Act requires, as statutory attachments, design documents and a field survey report prepared by a certified architect. With these, file a specific building report with the competent city, county or district (si/gun/gu) office.

5. 5. Approval for use after review and supplementation

   If the building committee review requires supplementation for structural safety, evacuation, fire prevention, parking and the like, supplementary construction work is carried out. If the standards are met, a certificate of approval for use is issued.

Required documents

• Specified building report form (statutory form)
• Building register and land ledger
• Corrective order, written warning or imposition notice of the charge for compelling compliance
• Design documents and field survey report prepared by a certified architect
• Proof of ownership of the site or of consent to its use (for a condominium building, proof of a resolution of the management body)
• Materials showing completion and use on or before December 31, 2023

Fees

Costs are divided into the charge for compelling compliance (if none has been imposed, an administrative fine equivalent to 5 impositions), certified architect costs (measurement, drawings, field survey report, structural review), the administrative agency service fee, supplementary construction costs, and actual expenses for surveying and certificates. Administrative agency service fees in the industry generally range from several hundred thousand won to several million won, and architect costs are separate. We will advise on the fee after reviewing the building and a consultation.

See fees and official charges for this service →

Legal basis and review date

• Act on Special Measures for the Arrangement of Specific Buildings, Article 3
• Act on Special Measures for the Arrangement of Specific Buildings, Article 4
• Act on Special Measures for the Arrangement of Specific Buildings, Article 6
• Act on Special Measures for the Arrangement of Specific Buildings, Article 9
• Act on Special Measures for the Arrangement of Specific Buildings, Addenda, Article 1
• Act on Special Measures for the Arrangement of Specific Buildings, Addenda, Article 2

Checked against the statutes on 2026-09-30

Statutes and public notices change, so each case needs to be checked individually. Statute titles are given in English for reference. The Korean statutes are the authoritative text.

Check these first

• Organizing the differences between the building register and the actual state, the time of the extension and the structure before the enforcement date will speed up preparation of the report.

Frequently asked questions