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Project Development

Reserve Construction Area

An area designated for temporary relocation of at-risk structures in urban renewal. Designated by the Ministry under Law 6306 on Transformation of Disaster-Risk Areas.

Reserve construction zone is defined under Disaster Risk Areas Transformation Law 6306 art. 2/1-c as "areas designated as new settlement zones to be used in transformations under this Law, by the Ministry upon application by TOKİ or the Administration or ex officio, with the favourable opinion of the Ministry of Finance".

Purpose: Create new settlement areas with ensured disaster safety, where residents of risky areas and risky buildings can relocate. These areas are typically: - Close to risky areas - Suitable for infrastructure and social amenities - On disaster-resistant ground - Public property or partially private property

Law 7471 (07.11.2023) amendment introduced a new mechanism: Real or private legal entities can request that their own property be designated as a reserve construction zone, but only on the condition that 30% of the property's buildable-area square meterage is transferred in ownership. This is a significant new avenue — private property owners can now apply for reserve zone status.

Reserve construction zone applications (per Law 6306 Implementation Regulation art. 4/a-b): - Reserve housing and workplaces: New structures where residents of risky areas or risky buildings will be relocated - Revenue-generating applications: Any structure + any implementation that generates income/revenue, sellable to parties not residing in risky structures

Procedure: A dossier is submitted to the Ministry with the area's coordinated base map, satellite/ortophoto image, list of state-owned properties, and reserve construction zone justification report. With the Ministry of Finance's favourable opinion, the Ministry issues the declaration. After declaration, the Ministry or TOKİ can halt all zoning and construction operations for 2 years (Law 6306 art. 4).

Examples

  • 1.İstanbul Kayaşehir region was declared a reserve construction zone; residents of Esenyurt risky structures were allocated new housing here (in partnership with TOKİ).
  • 2.After the Law 7471 amendment, a private plot owner filed a reserve-zone request with a 30% land-share transfer commitment; the Ministry approved and greenlit new construction in the area.
  • 3.Residents of a Bursa risky area were to move to a reserve zone; not wanting to relocate there themselves, they opted for new housing in return for rights in the reserve area (revenue-generating application).

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between reserve construction zone and risky zone?expand_more
**Risky zone** — already disaster-prone, typically old and disorderly built; aim is to demolish and rebuild (**Law 6306 art. 2/1-ç**, declared by Presidential decree). **Reserve construction zone** — new settlement area on safe ground, where risky zone residents will relocate (**art. 2/1-c**, declared by the Ministry). One is 'problem', the other is 'solution'.
Can my private property become a reserve construction zone?expand_more
Yes — through the Law 7471 (07.11.2023) amendment. Prerequisite: **transfer of 30% of the property's buildable square meterage** to the Treasury or TOKİ. The application is made to the Ministry; if approved, it is declared. Prior to this amendment, only public property could be a reserve zone — a significant relaxation.
Who can buy housing in a reserve construction zone?expand_more
Two categories: (1) **Risky zone or risky building residents** — right holders whose old housing was demolished, who may be allocated via TOKİ without requesting it. (2) **Third parties** — investors not residing in a risky zone who want to purchase from the market; sales to them happen in the area's revenue-generating portion (Law 6306 Implementation Reg. art. 4/b).
What zoning and fee advantages does a reserve zone have?expand_more
Per Law 6306 art. 7: exemption from all municipal fees and charges (for up to **1.5× the existing construction area** for new construction); stamp duty exemption; VAT exemption (first sale); fee reductions. These advantages make reserve-zone projects financially attractive — an important investment window.

Related Terms

Urban RenewalUrban TransformationBuilding Permit

Sources

  • • Disaster Risk Areas Transformation Law 6306 (art. 2/1-c, art. 4, art. 6, art. 7)
  • • Law 7471 (07.11.2023 Official Gazette) — private property reserve zone amendment
  • • Law 6306 Implementation Regulation (Official Gazette 28498 dated 15.12.2012)
  • • Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Urban Transformation Directorate (kdb.gov.tr)

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Last updated: 2026-04-24