In early April, Montenegrin media reported on a draft decision in Podgorica concerning the urban sanitation fee charged in the legalization of illegal structures. The main point highlighted in the coverage was the possibility of paying over up to 360 monthly installments, which, according to the publicly stated estimate, could significantly reduce the monthly burden for some property owners.
The legal framing matters here. This was not a confirmed new nationwide rule for all of Montenegro. It concerned a draft decision of the Capital City of Podgorica, which was placed on public consultation. Under the law, the local assembly sets the detailed conditions, amount, method, and deadlines for payment of this fee, subject to prior Government consent.
It is also important that the law itself already allows payment over up to 360 monthly installments for primary residence objects, while other illegal structures are subject to a different maximum. So the correct reading is not that a completely new national mechanism suddenly appeared, but that Podgorica publicly discussed how to regulate this mechanism at the local level.
Media reports also reflected criticism from participants who questioned whether the proposed amounts would still be affordable in practice. The practical conclusion is therefore cautious: the development is relevant, but at this stage it should still be described as a draft proposal, not as a finally adopted rule already in force.
This text is based on the confirmed Podgorica draft, the public consultation period from 25 March to 9 April 2026, the statutory cap of 360 installments for primary residence, and media reports citing estimated monthly payments.
The legal framing matters here. This was not a confirmed new nationwide rule for all of Montenegro. It concerned a draft decision of the Capital City of Podgorica, which was placed on public consultation. Under the law, the local assembly sets the detailed conditions, amount, method, and deadlines for payment of this fee, subject to prior Government consent.
It is also important that the law itself already allows payment over up to 360 monthly installments for primary residence objects, while other illegal structures are subject to a different maximum. So the correct reading is not that a completely new national mechanism suddenly appeared, but that Podgorica publicly discussed how to regulate this mechanism at the local level.
Media reports also reflected criticism from participants who questioned whether the proposed amounts would still be affordable in practice. The practical conclusion is therefore cautious: the development is relevant, but at this stage it should still be described as a draft proposal, not as a finally adopted rule already in force.
This text is based on the confirmed Podgorica draft, the public consultation period from 25 March to 9 April 2026, the statutory cap of 360 installments for primary residence, and media reports citing estimated monthly payments.