Tbilisi’s Architecture Service says the recent decline in construction permits reflects the large number of permits issued in previous years, particularly for social housing and urban renewal projects.
According to Architecture Service head Temur Bolotashvili, the city granted significant numbers of permits for unfinished construction projects, cooperative housing compensation programs, and the replacement of unsafe buildings. As a result, current statistics show a lower level of activity compared with previous years.
Bolotashvili said the number of permits has been gradually declining since 2022, but the total permitted construction area remains relatively high, fluctuating around 3.5 million square meters annually. He added that permit volumes are expected to stabilize rather than fall sharply.
Data for January–April 2026 show that the number of construction permits issued in Tbilisi fell 32.3% year-on-year to 44, while the permitted residential area declined 40% to 352,000 square meters. In the same period of 2025, the city issued 65 permits covering 587,000 square meters.
