New Bureaucratic Burdens for Home Charging Stations

On Tuesday, the electric vehicle drivers' association Strujni krug submitted its comments on the Draft Rulebook on Structures and Works Not Requiring a Building Permit. According to their analysis, the new regulation drafted by the Ministry of Construction explicitly stipulates, for the first time, special conditions, connection requirements, and certificates from public law bodies for the installation of electric vehicle charging equipment, which the current regulation did not require.

The draft rulebook is open for public consultation on the eSavjetovanja portal until September 3, 2026. Strujni krug urges all electric vehicle owners to get involved and submit their comments on Article 9 of the draft rulebook.

From a Box on the Wall to a Full Project

Under the proposal, a homeowner installing a charging unit for their own car on their garage wall would need to obtain a main project, special conditions, connection requirements, and certificates from public law bodies. Additionally, they would have to notify the start of construction, provide a GML record of the coordinates of boundary points, and arrange for professional supervision.

The association points out that this change creates additional financial burdens for homeowners wishing to install a wall-mounted home charger. Along with an estimated several hundred euros in extra costs, there is also the possibility of waiting months for approval.

Four Tons of Gas Without Paperwork, But Not a Charger

Strujni krug highlights the illogical nature of the proposal: the same draft allows for the installation of heating, cooling, or air conditioning systems up to 30 kW without a building permit or main project, as well as pallets of liquefied petroleum gas cylinders with a total mass of up to 4,000 kilograms.

"The state has decided that a box on a garage wall is a serious construction project, but four tons of gas cylinders are not. We are not asking for anything to be done without control or expertise; we are simply asking that a car charger be treated at least as leniently as an air conditioner with higher power, which the same rulebook allows without a single piece of paper," said Hrvoje Prpić, president of the Strujni krug association.

According to the association's proposal, alternating current charging equipment up to 22 kW, which is standard for home use, should be installable without a building permit or main project, provided it is connected to an existing and verified installation. Higher-power chargers and direct current equipment would still be subject to stricter rules.

Obligation Under EU Directive

Strujni krug also warns of an obligation under European Union law. Article 14, paragraph 8 of Directive (EU) 2024/1275 on the energy performance of buildings requires member states to simplify, streamline, and accelerate processes for installing charging stations in existing residential and commercial buildings and to remove administrative barriers, including procedures for public authorities issuing permits and approvals. The deadline for implementing this provision into Croatian law expired on May 29, 2026.

The Strujni krug association has over 1,300 members who are electric vehicle drivers in Croatia. Prpić calls on all drivers to participate in the public consultation, as it is, he says, the cheapest and fastest way to bring about change.

"This is the cheapest and fastest way to change something. Complaints and administrative disputes last for years, but now we have the chance to be heard while the regulation is still being drafted, so we call on all electric vehicle drivers to join the public consultation. If there are enough of us, our comments cannot be silenced. We also invite them to join us in our common fight for clear and reasonable rules, because a larger membership means greater influence in consultations and discussions with institutions," added Prpić.