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In Bulgarian property practice, Acts 14, 15 and 16 refer to different stages in completing and commissioning a building.
The documents record construction progress and compliance with requirements such as:
- Safety;
- Fitness for the intended use;
- Structural stability.
The procedure is governed mainly by Bulgaria's Spatial Development Act and related regulations. Buyers should use the documents to assess the status of a property in Bulgaria.
ACT 14
Act 14 records acceptance of the building's structural shell. It concerns the load-bearing structure and its conformity with the approved design and is an important milestone before later construction and finishing work.
Utilities and internal finishes may still be incomplete at Act 14 stage. In some circumstances, separately defined units can be transferred after the legally recognised rough-construction stage, but the exact documents and risks require legal review.
ACT 15
Act 15 is drawn up when the construction participants state that the building has been completed in accordance with the approved plans and construction documents. It records the condition of the works and any outstanding defects before commissioning.
Act 15 is not itself a guarantee of ownership transfer or permission to occupy the building. The supporting file can include:
- Construction contracts and records;
- As-built documentation;
- Construction acts, protocols and test records;
- Other documents required for the specific building category.
The Act 15 process can record tests, measurements, unfinished items and defects. Outstanding work must be resolved as required before the building is commissioned.
ACT 16
“Act 16” is commonly used as shorthand for the final commissioning stage. Depending on the building category, the legally relevant document may be an occupancy permit or a certificate of commissioning. It should be issued only after the competent authority is satisfied that the legal requirements are met. Its absence does not by itself prove a defect, but it means the buyer must establish the exact construction and occupancy status before purchase or use.
Bulgarian property can be contracted or purchased at different construction stages . Buying at Act 14 stage may mean a lower price, but it also increases completion, financing, delay and developer risk. Have a Bulgarian property lawyer verify the project, land, permits, contracts and payment schedule.
