A plot of land that has remained uncleared “for many, many years” in Giourgia, near number 36, has been reported to iartemida.gr by a local resident. The photographs and video footage sent to our website show an uncovered area right next to the road, with tall, dry vegetation, thick bushes that have spread right up to the pavement and pine trees growing within it.
“I’ve been renting this house for four years and this is the state of it,” he says. “I’ve been told by the neighbours that they’ve complained about this issue for a very long time.”
As she says, she had raised the issue previously in a local community group and discussed it with other residents, without any progress ever being made. Her concern is specific: the pine trees on the plot, in a densely built-up neighbourhood where houses are in direct contact with the property.
The complaint comes at a time when the obligation to clear brush is very much in force. The fire prevention period ends on 31 October, and the law does not merely require clearing to take place in the spring, but that the plot be kept clear until the end of the period. This year’s deadline for completing the work and submitting the online declaration was 15 June — in other words, it has now been three months since then. The Municipality of Spata–Artemida had called on landowners in a notice dated 5 May 2026, which explicitly covered both plots within the town plan and those within a 100-metre radius of its boundaries, such as those in Artemida.
The framework changed this year with Law 5182/2026 and has become stricter. The cleaning declaration is made via the akatharista.apps.gov.gr platform, whilst those unable to do so online may submit it via a KEP (the citizens' service centre) or the Fire Service. The fine for failing to carry out the clean-up has doubled to 1 euro per square metre, with a minimum of 200 euros and a maximum of 2,000 euros. Failure to submit a declaration incurs a fine of 500 euros, whilst if the site is cleaned but the declaration is submitted late, the fine is limited to 100 euros.
The most important thing for the neighbour of an abandoned plot of land is that the local authority does not simply stand by and watch. When the owner fails to comply, the local authority carries out the clean-up on its own initiative and charges the cost to the owner. In the event of an appeal, the fine for failure to clear the site is reduced by 50 per cent provided that the work is completed whilst the appeal is being considered.
In practice, a post in a Facebook group does not trigger any procedure. What does trigger a process is a written complaint to Spata–Artemida Town Council, via the call centre on 213 2007300 or by email to info@spata-artemis.gr, including the exact address, photographs and the date, so that a reference number can be issued and the matter can subsequently be traced. In the event of immediate danger or a fire, the number to call is 199.
Source: Municipality of Spata–Artemida, announcement regarding the clearing of plots of land, 5 May 2026 · Law No. 5182/2026 (Government Gazette A’ 28) · complaint by a reader on iartemida.gr, 19/09/2026
