On a Croatian building project that needs a permit, you as the owner are the investor (investitor). A licensed architect or engineer designs the work, a registered contractor builds it, and a separate licensed supervising engineer (nadzorni inženjer) checks the work on your behalf. On some projects a review engineer (revident) also checks the structural design, and the state building inspection can visit at any time.
This guide explains each role in general terms under the new Construction Act (Zakon o gradnji), in force since 1 January 2026. It is not legal advice: detailed rules change, and much depends on your building and municipality. Whether you need a permit at all is covered in do you need a permit to renovate in Croatia?. Here we look at the people.
Who are the participants in a Croatian building project?
The Construction Act names five participants in construction (sudionici u gradnji): the investor, the designer, the contractor, the supervising engineer and the review engineer. Around them are the authorities: the building office that issues permits and the building inspection that checks sites.
| Role | What they do | When you need them |
|---|---|---|
| Investor (investitor) | Owner in whose name the work is done; hires the others in writing | Always: that's you |
| Designer (projektant) | Licensed architect or engineer who signs and answers for the design | Work needing a permit or main project |
| Review engineer (revident) | Independent check of the structural design | Only where a check is required |
| Supervising engineer (nadzorni inženjer) | Checks on site, for you, that work follows permit and design | Permit-based work, and some without |
| Contractor (izvođač) | Registered business that builds | Any building work |
| Site engineer (inženjer gradilišta) | Contractor's person in charge on site; keeps the site log | Permit-based work |
| Licensed surveyor (ovlašteni inženjer geodezije) | Site plan, setting out, survey of what was built | New buildings, changed footprints |
| Building inspection (građevinska inspekcija) | State inspectors who can check any site and stop work | Not hired: they come to you |
Architect and engineers: who designs your project?
The designer (projektant) must be a licensed architect (ovlašteni arhitekt) or licensed engineer (ovlašteni inženjer), a member of the relevant chamber: the Croatian Chamber of Architects (HKA), the Croatian Chamber of Civil Engineers (HKIG) for civil and structural engineers, or the separate chambers for electrical and mechanical engineers.
Each designer answers for their own part. When several work together, a lead designer (glavni projektant), named in the design contract, is responsible for making everything fit; on bigger projects, see why a BIM specialist can pay off. Licensed professionals were long recognised by their stamp (pečat) with a licence number. Today projects are electronic documents with a qualified electronic signature, but the rule is the same: the name must be in the chamber's register.
For smaller houses the procedure is lighter than it used to be. A less complex building (manje složena zgrada: residential, at most two flats, up to 400 m² gross floor area) now gets its building permit on the basis of a conceptual design (idejni projekt), and the full main project (glavni projekt) must be ready before construction starts. For other buildings the main project comes with the permit application.
Want to use an architect from home? A design prepared under foreign regulations has to be translated into Croatian and checked against Croatian rules (nostrifikacija) before it can be used. Foreign architects and engineers can also register with the Croatian chambers, which keep separate registers for them.
What is a revident, and when do you need one?
The review engineer (revident) is an independent licensed engineer who checks the design for mechanical resistance and stability: in plain words, whether the structure will stand. The revident must not have worked on the design. A ministry ordinance sets which projects need this check: mainly larger or structurally demanding ones, such as big spans or long cantilevers, and buildings built directly against an existing one. Many small houses don't need it; your designer will know.
Why does the supervising engineer surprise foreigners?
In many countries the owner's architect keeps an eye on the site, or a building control officer visits a few times. In Croatia, work that needs a building permit must have professional supervision (stručni nadzor) by a supervising engineer, a licensed architect or engineer whom you, the investor, appoint. They work for you, and the law does not allow them to be the contractor's employee.
They check that the work follows the permit, the design and the regulations, that the contractor and site engineer are qualified, that a licensed surveyor set out the building and that the necessary tests are done. They write findings into the site log, tell you about defects, inform the inspection when needed and write the final report needed for the use permit.
For a less complex building, the 2026 Act limits supervision to mechanical resistance and stability: the engineer inspects the structural stages and approves the work before it continues. Larger projects have several supervising engineers, one per discipline, plus a lead supervising engineer.
Contractor, site engineer and the site log
The contractor (izvođač) must be registered and approved for construction work. On a permit-based project, it appoints a site engineer (inženjer gradilišta) or works manager (voditelj radova), who must be on site while their work is carried out and fill in the site log (građevinski dnevnik) daily. When two or more contractors work on one building, the investor names a main contractor in the contract, and its lead site engineer (glavni inženjer gradilišta) coordinates everyone.
Before work starts, the investor must notify the start of construction (prijava početka građenja) electronically to the building office and the building inspection, naming the contractor and the supervising engineer. The site must be fenced and marked with a site board (ploča gradilišta) showing the investor, designer, contractor and supervising engineer, plus the permit details. A look at the board on any site tells you who is responsible there.
At the end, the contractor confirms the completed work in writing, the supervising engineer writes the final report, and the investor applies for the use permit (uporabna dozvola), which follows a technical inspection (tehnički pregled). An energy certificate (energetski certifikat) is part of the paperwork for buildings covered by the energy rules, and you generally need one to sell or rent out a property. The building inspection belongs to the State Inspectorate (Državni inspektorat) and can order work to stop.
Which documents matter, and which works need none of this?
In general terms: a location permit (lokacijska dozvola) is a separate step only for some projects; for many houses the conditions come straight from the spatial plan and the process goes directly to the building permit (građevinska dozvola). A sensible first step is a location information (lokacijska informacija), which tells you what the plan allows on your plot.
Plenty of renovation work needs nobody above except a good contractor: painting, new floors and tiles, a bathroom or kitchen in an existing room, renewed installations. A ministry ordinance lists works that need no building permit, though some still need a main project, a supervising engineer or a start notice. If your house was legalised rather than built with a permit, read what a legalised building means when you renovate before planning anything structural.
What should you check when hiring each of them?
- Architect or engineer. Check the online register of HKA or HKIG, ask for similar projects (stone houses, old towns) and agree in writing what the fee covers.
- Review engineer. Usually arranged through your designer; must be independent of the design office.
- Supervising engineer. Independent of the contractor, available at the key stages and clear about how they report to you.
- Contractor. Registered for construction, with a named site engineer, a written contract and a clear price. Our tips on working with tradesmen in Croatia apply here too.
- Everyone. Written contracts, invoices with VAT, and all documents kept together.
Where do we fit in? We are a renovation team. For interior work that needs no permit, such as a new bathroom or a full interior renovation, we coordinate the trades directly. On permit-based projects we work alongside your architect, supervising engineer and main contractor on the parts of the job that suit our trades, never instead of them.
Planning a project and not sure who you need first? Send photos and a short description on WhatsApp. We'll tell you honestly whether it is a job we can start directly or one where you should talk to an architect first.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a supervising engineer in Croatia?
Yes, for work that needs a building permit: the law requires supervision by a licensed architect or engineer appointed by the investor. For a smaller house it now covers the structural work. Some works without a permit also need one.
Who pays the supervising engineer, the owner or the builder?
The owner (investor) appoints and pays the supervising engineer, who acts on the owner's behalf and may not be employed by the contractor.
What is a revident in Croatia?
A revident is an independent licensed engineer who checks a design for mechanical resistance and stability. The check is only required for certain buildings and works listed in a ministry ordinance, usually larger or structurally demanding ones.
Can a foreign architect design my house in Croatia?
Yes, but a design made under foreign regulations must be translated into Croatian and checked against Croatian rules (nostrification). Foreign architects can also register with the Croatian chambers. A local licensed architect knows the local plans, which often makes things simpler.
How do I check if an architect or engineer in Croatia is licensed?
The Croatian Chamber of Architects (HKA) and the Croatian Chamber of Civil Engineers (HKIG) publish online registers of their licensed members, including site engineers and works managers. Ask for the person's full name and look it up there.