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National reference metadata

Croatia

Reference metadata describe statistical concepts and methodologies used for the collection and generation of data. They provide information on data quality and, since they are strongly content-oriented, assist users in interpreting the data. Reference metadata, unlike structural metadata, can be decoupled from the data.

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Building permits

National Reference Metadata in Euro SDMX Metadata Structure (ESMS)

Compiling agency: Croatian Bureau of Statistics

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Building permits issued. A building permit is an authorisation to start work on a building project. The objective of the building permits indicator is to show the future development of construction activity. Building permit is a document issued by a competent administrative body.

Data are important for: statistical monitoring of short-term changes in the construction activity (number of dwellings, useful floor area), review of interventions into living space, business decision-making in construction and related activities, international comparisons. Data are collected by using the reporting method on the Monthly Report on Building Permits issued (GRAĐ-44a form).

12 April 2024

Building permit is a document issued by a competent administrative body on the basis of which it is permitted to start the construction of a new construction or a reconstruction of an existing construction. Data on issued building permits make it possible to define the change dynamics of the construction activity as well as to plan future works and the structure of investments both at state and local self-government levels. The data serve as a base for planning the production of construction materials and ready-made components as well as of other industrial products for fitting buildings and dwellings, for making decisions on the development of construction entrepreneurship and various housing-related services etc.

Detailed definitions of the indicators are described in the Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 of the European Parliament and of the Council, and in the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197., as well as in Methodological Guidelines No. 68. Monthly Report on Building Permits Issued (Revision 2011), Croatian Bureau of Statistics, Zagreb, 2012.

During the transitional period (2021 -2023), detailed definitions of the indicators described in the Commission Regulation 1503/2006 are still relevant.

The following data are collected on the monthly questionnaire:

Number of building permits issued for all types of constructions and works (new constructions, reconstructions, etc.)

Number of constructions by type of construction (according to CC)

Construction size of buildings (m2 and m3)

Number of buildings and square metres of useful floor area

Number of dwellings and useful floor area of dwellings

Number of dwellings by type of construction works and number of rooms.

Data are collected monthly and include all building permits issued during the reporting month.

Reporting units are administration bodies competent for construction affairs in major cities, the City of Zagreb and counties as well as from the Ministry of Construction and Physical Planning, which issue building permits for constructions.

Observation units are all building permits issued for all types of constructions and works.

All building permits issued for all types of constructions and works; number of constructions; construction size of buildings (gross floor area and gross volume) and square metres of useful floor area of buildings; number of dwellings by type of construction works and number of rooms and useful floor area of dwellings.

Reporting units are administration bodies competent for construction affairs in major cities, the City of Zagreb and counties as well as from the Ministry of Construction and Physical Planning, which issue building permits for constructions.

There are 139 reporting units, which issued 11564 building permits in 2023 (10025 for buildings and 1539 for civil engineering works).

The data refers to the whole territory of the Republic of Croatia - no regions are excluded. The regional coverage has not changed in any way.

Data are collected monthly. Frequency of dissemination:

- European level: quarterly

- National level: monthly

Building permits indicator are assigned to the period when they are granted.

As there is used census survey as data collection method it can be stated that there is neither statistical error nor bias.

Results in the first release are treated as final results with t+45.

Number of construction, number of dwellings and square metres of useful floor area for buildings and dwellings

The coverage is full, that is, statistical survey includes all issued building permits. A comprehensive survey is used as a method of data collection in order to collect all data on all building permits issued (the whole population) and for all types of constructions.

There are no unit non-response rates and item non-response rates, because reporting units that did not send filled-in questionnaires or did not fully complete the questionnaire are contacted by phone and asked to send the filled-in questionnaire for the current month or to provide the missing data. The 100% unit response rate is achieved on the monthly basis. That means that there is no need for imputation or estimation.

The coverage is full, that is, statistical survey includes all issued building permits. A comprehensive survey is used as a method of data collection in order to collect all data on all building permits issued (the whole population) and for all types of constructions. The Address Book of Reporting Units is a directory of all cities and municipalities in the Republic of Croatia for areas for which construction bodies are authorised to issue documents by which building works are approved.

Data are collected monthly. Frequency of dissemination:

- European level: quarterly

- National level: monthly

Indicators are transmitted to Eurostat 90 days after the end of the reference period in form which is acceptable in the transitional period (2021 – 2023). For national purposes, data are disseminated 45 days after the end of the reference month.

Forms for the whole year are sent to reporting units at the beginning of January. Reporting units then fill in the GRAĐ-44a forms on the basis of their records on building permits issued.

Since May 2022 it has been made possible for reporting units to fill in electronic questionnaires.

The latest deadline for the delivery of filled-in forms to the Croatian Bureau of Statistics is the 5th day in a month for the previous month.

Collection of data is finished in 20 days after the deadline.

There are no problems with data comparability. The same statistical concepts and classifications are applied in the entire national territory. The Croatian Classification of Types of Construction (NKVG) is harmonised with the Classification of Types of Construction (CC). In order to meet STS data requirements, data presented according to CC Classification is converted according to CPA ver. 2.1 - Statistical Classification of Products by Activity. The Croatian Construction Statistics Unit ensured that the national survey on building permits issued provides data that are harmonized with the EU recommendations, definitions and classifications. The data are of the same quality as those provided by other EU Member States. All variables are defined in accordance with the recommendations mandatory for all EU Member States:

REGULATION (EU) 2019/2152 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 27 November 2019 on European business statistics, repealing 10 legal acts in the field of business statistics and in the COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2020/1197 of 30 July 2020 laying down technical specifications and arrangements pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 of the European Parliament and of the Council on European business statistics repealing 10 legal acts in the field of business statistics

Still relevant during transitional period 2021 – 2023:

STS-R, the Council Regulation (EC) No 1165/98, OJ L 162/98 concerning short-term statistics; the Regulation (EC) No 1158/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 July 2005 amending the Council Regulation (EC) No 1165/98 concerning short-term statistics; the Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1503/2006 of 28 September 2006 implementing and amending the Council Regulation (EC) No. 1165/98 concerning short-term statistics as regards the definition of variables, list of variables and frequency of data compilation.

All data have been available since 2000; they are comparable and free of any breaks in series.