The fundamental act governing the entire building process in Italy: it defines building works, the permits required to carry them out (from free building activity to the building permit), administrative procedures, fitness for use and the sanctioning regime.
Applies to all building and urban transformation works. It sets out fundamental principles and detailed rules, without prejudice to the legislative powers of the Regions, which may regulate specific aspects in compliance with the Act's principles.
The Consolidated Building Act is the starting point of any work on existing buildings. The practical question it answers is almost always the same: to carry out a given work, which permit do I need? The answer depends on the scale of the work, which the Act organises into a ladder of increasing intensity.
The more a work affects structures, volumes and use, the higher the required permit climbs. Here is the logic of each step.
| Permit | Typical works | In short |
|---|---|---|
| Free building | ordinary maintenance; architectural barriers without external ramps or lifts | no permit or notice |
| CILA | non-structural extraordinary maintenance and, generally, whatever is neither free nor subject to SCIA or permit | notify and start |
| SCIA | works affecting structures or restoration/renovation | report certified by a professional |
| Building permit | new construction, major renovation | act issued by the Municipality |
Obtaining the permit does not end the process. At completion, the notice of fitness for use (agibilita) certifies that the works meet the requirements of safety, hygiene, health and energy saving. On the legitimacy side, every property has a lawful status - its authorisation history - which has become central to sales and new works. Control rests with the Municipality, which oversees building activity and applies sanctions in case of abuse.
Where this rule shows up in past architect qualification exams — study the rule, not just the theme.
In short: CILA covers extraordinary maintenance that does NOT affect structural parts; SCIA covers works affecting structures or restoration. SCIA requires certification by a qualified professional. Classification depends on the work and regional rules.
The set of works that can be carried out without any permit or notice (e.g. ordinary maintenance). The list is defined by the Act and was broadened by recent measures such as the 2024 Salva Casa. Constraints (landscape, structural, etc.) still apply.
Building is a shared-competence matter: the State sets fundamental principles via the Act, but Regions may issue detailed rules and Municipalities have their own building regulations. The same work may therefore have different requirements across territories.
It is the property's lawful planning/building status, reconstructed from the permits that governed its construction and changes. It has become central - also after the 2024 Salva Casa - because it conditions sales, financing and new works.
It is the certification, via a notice at completion of works, that the building meets the required safety, hygiene, health and energy-saving conditions. It replaced the old fitness certificate with a professional's notice.