When does a building permit lapse in Chile?

Automatically three years after it is granted, if the corresponding works have not started or have remained halted for that same period (OGUC, Article 1.4.17; LGUC, Article 120).

Does the lapse require a municipal resolution?

No. The Ordinance says the permit "will lapse automatically" when the three years are up (OGUC, Article 1.4.17). The law leaves the validity, lapse and extension of permits to the Ordinance (LGUC, Article 120).

What if building continues under a lapsed permit?

The works are being executed without a valid permit: the Director of Municipal Works must order their immediate halt (LGUC, Article 146; OGUC, Article 5.1.21), the breach is reported to the Local Police Court (LGUC, Article 20) and demolition of what was built in breach of the law may be ordered (LGUC, Article 148).

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Never let your building permit lapse for want of a start

A building permit lapses automatically three years after it is granted if works have not started, or if they have remained halted for that same period (LGUC, Article 120; OGUC, Article 1.4.17). Works count as started once the layout is set out and the project's excavations have begun.

The General Urban Planning and Construction Law (LGUC, DFL 458 of 1975) requires a permit from the Municipal Works Department (Dirección de Obras Municipales, DOM), applied for by the owner, for the construction, reconstruction, repair, alteration, extension and demolition of buildings and urbanisation works, subject to the exceptions in the General Ordinance (Article 116). The validity, lapse and extension of a permit, and the effects of halting works or building without a permit, are governed by the General Ordinance (Article 120).

The General Urban Planning and Construction Ordinance (OGUC, DS 47 of 1992) provides that the permit lapses automatically three years after it is granted if the corresponding works have not been started or if they have remained halted for that same period. Works are deemed started once the layout has been set out and the excavations shown in the project drawings have begun (Article 1.4.17). The lapse needs no resolution: it operates by the mere passage of time.

The three-year period runs from the grant of the permit, and the same rule applies to started works that remain halted for three years. Changes to the project after the permit are processed under Articles 3.1.9 and 5.1.17 of the Ordinance (Article 1.4.16). If works are carried out without a permit or in breach of it, the Director of Municipal Works must order their immediate halt (LGUC, Article 146; OGUC, Article 5.1.21), without prejudice to penalties and possible demolition (LGUC, Articles 20 and 148).

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At a glance

Rule	General Urban Planning and Construction Law (DFL 458 of 1975), Articles 116 and 120; General Ordinance (DS 47 of 1992), Article 1.4.17
Who grants it	Municipal Works Department, on the owner's application (LGUC, Article 116)
Lapse	Automatic three years after the permit is granted if works have not started (OGUC, Article 1.4.17)
Halted works	Also lapses if works remain halted for three years (OGUC, Article 1.4.17)
Works started	Layout set out and the excavations in the project drawings begun (OGUC, Article 1.4.17)
Changes	Processed with the DOM under OGUC Articles 3.1.9 and 5.1.17 (OGUC, Article 1.4.16; LGUC, Article 119)
Works without permit	Immediate halt ordered by the Director of Works (LGUC, Article 146; OGUC, Article 5.1.21)
Enforcement	Municipal Works Department; complaints to the Local Police Court (LGUC, Articles 20 and 146)

This guide used the OGUC version in force on LeyChile since 2 October 2026; the text of Article 1.4.17 dates from Decree 75 of 2001 and was not changed by the latest amendments. An approved preliminary project (anteproyecto) is a separate instrument, valid for 180 days or one year depending on the case (OGUC, Article 1.4.11), and is not covered here.

Who is responsible?

The permit is applied for by and belongs to the owner (LGUC, Article 116), who loses the right if works are not started or remain halted for three years (OGUC, Article 1.4.17). If the owner changes during construction, the new owner must attend the DOM to sign the permit within 15 days of registering title, and if the responsible professionals leave there are 15 days to name new ones; otherwise the DOM halts the works (OGUC, Article 5.1.20).

If the deadline passes

Once the permit has lapsed, any works carried out lack a valid permit. The Director of Municipal Works must order the immediate halt of works executed without a permit (LGUC, Article 146; OGUC, Article 5.1.21), breaches of the law and the Ordinance are reported to the Local Police Court and punished with a fine, without prejudice to halting or demolition (LGUC, Article 20), and the Mayor may order demolition of works built in breach of the law (LGUC, Article 148). The rules read make no provision for reviving a lapsed permit: a new one must be applied for and will be assessed under the rules in force at that time.

Two milestones, one period

Record the date the permit was granted: three years later it lapses if no layout or excavation has started (OGUC, Article 1.4.17). If works have started and then stop, the clock runs again from the halt, and three consecutive years without activity have the same effect. The Ordinance does not say how the halt date is evidenced; the site logbook and correspondence with the DOM are the practical backup.

Tracking it with ExpirySuite

Add the building permit with the date it was granted and set expiry three years later; if works are halted, update the reference date to the start of the halt.
Email reminders arrive 60, 30, 14, 7 and 1 day before expiry and on the expiry day.
The architect or site builder can upload the permit, the start-of-works record or the resumption note through a secure link that is valid for 14 days and needs no account.
Assign a responsible person, such as the project manager or the owner; if the period runs out, managers get further reminders 3, 7 and 14 days later.

Frequently asked questions

When does a building permit lapse in Chile?: Automatically three years after it is granted, if the corresponding works have not started or have remained halted for that same period (OGUC, Article 1.4.17; LGUC, Article 120).
When are works deemed started?: Once the layout has been set out and the excavations shown in the project drawings have begun (OGUC, Article 1.4.17).
Does the lapse require a municipal resolution?: No. The Ordinance says the permit "will lapse automatically" when the three years are up (OGUC, Article 1.4.17). The law leaves the validity, lapse and extension of permits to the Ordinance (LGUC, Article 120).
What if building continues under a lapsed permit?: The works are being executed without a valid permit: the Director of Municipal Works must order their immediate halt (LGUC, Article 146; OGUC, Article 5.1.21), the breach is reported to the Local Police Court (LGUC, Article 20) and demolition of what was built in breach of the law may be ordered (LGUC, Article 148).

Sources

Last checked: Oct 14, 2026 · This page summarises official sources for general information and is not legal advice. Check the linked sources for current rules and fees.

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Reminders on time

Email alerts at 60, 30, 14, 7 and 1 day before each building permit lapse (Chile) expires, plus overdue escalation to managers.

Assign an owner

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