North Cyprus district guide

Kyrenia (Girne) land, development order and planning guide

Kyrenia (Girne) is one of the six districts of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, covering about 644 km² with 48 villages and towns and 4 municipalities (Çatalköy-Esentepe, Dikmen, Kyrenia, Lapta-Alsancak-Çamlıbel). By area, the district falls under the Kyrenia Region 2 Development Order (40%), the Kyrenia Region 1 Development Order (25%), the Chapter 96 area (15%). Protected areas in the district: Kyrenia SEPA (25%), Akdeniz SEPA (20%), Alagadi SEPA (under 5%). This page summarises the district's planning zones, plan zone types, protected areas, amenities, earthquake history and distances; village pages give more detail.

Famagusta districtNicosia districtGüzelyurt districtAğırdağAkçiçekAkdenizAlemdağAlsancakArapköyAşağıdikmenAşağıtaşkentBahçeliBeşparmakBeylerbeyiBoğazköyÇamlıbelÇatalköyDağyoluDoğanköyErdemitEsentepeGeçitköyKyrenia town centreGöçeriGüngörHisarköyIlgazİncesuKaraağaçKarakumKaramanKaraoğlanoğluKarpaşaKarşıyakaKayalarKılıçaslanKoruçamKozanKömürcüLaptaMalatyaOzanköyÖzhanPınarbaşıSadrazamköyŞirinevlerTepebaşıYeşiltepeYukarıdikmenYukarıtaşkentZeytinlik
Hover over or tap a village to see its name and key facts; click to open its page. Grey areas are neighbouring districts. Boundaries are simplified.
Area644 km²
Villages / towns48
Municipalities4
Main planning zone
?
In short: A regulation issued by the Town Planning Department for an area that controls building there. The area is divided into colour zones (yellow, blue, brown, green…); the permitted uses, density (floor area ratio), number of storeys and height for each colour are set out in the development order. For the exact rules, see the text published in the Official Gazette and ask the Town Planning Department.
Kyrenia Region 2 Development Order40%
Environmental protection
?
In short: An area declared to protect natural and biological assets (sand dunes, turtle nesting beaches, wetlands, forest). Building inside is very restricted or prohibited; the rules come from the area's environmental protection plan and decisions of the relevant departments.
45%Kyrenia SEPA, Akdeniz SEPA, Alagadi SEPA
Ercan Airport38 kmfrom the middle of the district

Planning zone
?
In short: A regulation issued by the Town Planning Department for an area that controls building there. The area is divided into colour zones (yellow, blue, brown, green…); the permitted uses, density (floor area ratio), number of storeys and height for each colour are set out in the development order. For the exact rules, see the text published in the Official Gazette and ask the Town Planning Department.

Part of the Kyrenia district (40%) is within the Kyrenia Region 2 Development Order; the rest falls in Kyrenia Region 1 Development Order (25%), Chapter 96 area (15%), Boğaz Development Order (15%), Aquifer (groundwater) zone (under 5%). In Chapter 96 areas the general building rules apply instead of a development order
?
In short: Where there is no development order or zoning plan, building is governed by the Streets and Buildings Regulation Law (Chapter 96 — Fasıl 96) and needs a permit from the competent authority, usually the municipality. Each application is assessed individually; road access, infrastructure and neighbouring uses matter.

Main plan zone types
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In short: The type of zone in a development order or zoning plan that shows what land may be used for: housing development, agriculture, forest, tourism, coastal strip, development order colour zones and so on. Percentages show the approximate share within the boundary; the exact type for your plot is shown on the map with a point query.

The exact plan zone type, development order colour and map sheet of your plot are shown on the map with a point query.

Open the planning layer on the map

Shares are approximate (rounded to 5%). For building rules, the text of the development order published in the Official Gazette and the Town Planning Department prevail.

Special Environmental Protection Areas
?
In short: An area declared to protect natural and biological assets (sand dunes, turtle nesting beaches, wetlands, forest). Building inside is very restricted or prohibited; the rules come from the area's environmental protection plan and decisions of the relevant departments.

About 25% of the Kyrenia district lies within the Kyrenia SEPA and about 20% lies within the Akdeniz SEPA and about under 5% lies within the Alagadi SEPA. Building in these areas is very restricted or prohibited; you can check on the map whether your plot is inside.

Nearby amenities
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In short: The number of schools, health facilities, supermarkets, parks and service points recorded within this boundary in OpenStreetMap (the open world map kept up to date by volunteers). Coverage is good in towns; villages may have gaps. The distance from your plot to the nearest amenities is shown on the map.

School22
Nursery / kindergarten7
University33
Hospital12
Health centre5
Pharmacy19
Supermarket92
Street market5
Park46
Mosque22
Beach12
Fuel station23
Bus station1
Police / gendarmerie8
Fire station3
Post office (PTT)10
Bank / ATM72

Points recorded in OpenStreetMap within the Kyrenia district. The distance from your plot to the nearest school, supermarket, health centre and park, and a liveability score, are shown on the map with a point query.

Source: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Data is maintained by volunteers and may be incomplete, especially in villages.

Earthquake history
?
In short: Earthquakes come from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) catalogue and fault traces from the GEM Global Active Faults Database. Cyprus is an earthquake zone because it lies near the Cyprus Arc, where the African and Anatolian plates meet; most of the largest earthquakes occur south of the island and offshore. For any building, a soil survey and the earthquake regulations in force prevail.

M5+ earthquakes (since 1900)1within the boundary or 10 km of it
Largest earthquakeM5.520.04.1921
Nearest active fault trace12.2 kmfrom the centre point

Since 1900, 1 earthquakes of magnitude 5 or above have been recorded within the Kyrenia district or 10 km of it; the largest was M5.5 in 1921. Cyprus is an earthquake zone because of the Cyprus Arc, which runs south of the island; the distance from your plot to the nearest fault and nearby earthquakes are shown on the map.

Source: USGS earthquake catalogue, GEM Global Active Faults Database (CC BY-SA 4.0). For any building, a soil survey and the earthquake regulations in force prevail.

Transport

Ercan Airport38 kmthe only airport with scheduled flights
Nearest passenger port19 kmKyrenia Tourist Harbour
Nicosia25 kmcapital, city centre

Distances are straight-line and measured from a representative point in the middle of the Kyrenia district; road distances are longer. Scheduled civil flights use Ercan; ferries to Türkiye sail from Kyrenia Tourist Harbour and Famagusta Port.

Looking for land in Kyrenia?

Tell us the area, plot size and budget you have in mind. With your consent, we pass your request to a registered estate agent in North Cyprus who knows the area. Free, no account needed — just confirm your e-mail.

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Buying land: title deed, permission, planning
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In short: In North Cyprus the title deed is called a koçan. Turkish title, equivalent title and allocation title deeds carry different legal risks; before buying, have the type and history of the deed checked against the Land Registry records and get advice from an independent lawyer.

Title deed types in North Cyprus · Buying land in North Cyprus · All guides

Villages and municipalities of Kyrenia

Neighbouring districts

Famagusta Nicosia Güzelyurt

Frequently asked questions

Which development orders apply in the Kyrenia district?

According to our planning data, the Kyrenia district falls under the Kyrenia Region 2 Development Order (40%), the Kyrenia Region 1 Development Order (25%), the Chapter 96 area (15%), the Boğaz Development Order (15%), the Aquifer (groundwater) zone (under 5%). In Chapter 96 areas the general rules of the Streets and Buildings Regulation Law apply instead of a development order.

How many villages and municipalities are there in Kyrenia?

The Kyrenia district has 48 villages and towns and 4 municipalities (Çatalköy-Esentepe Municipality, Dikmen Municipality, Kyrenia Municipality, Lapta-Alsancak-Çamlıbel Municipality).

Are there Special Environmental Protection Areas in Kyrenia?

Yes: Kyrenia SEPA (about 25% of the district), Akdeniz SEPA (about 20% of the district), Alagadi SEPA (about under 5% of the district). Building is very restricted in these areas.

How far is Kyrenia from Ercan Airport?

About 38 km as the crow flies from the middle of the district. The nearest passenger port is Kyrenia Tourist Harbour (19 km). Distances for each village are on the village pages.

How can I find out the planning status of a plot in Kyrenia?

Open the North Cyprus workspace on the ParselX map and upload your plot as KML, draw it or tap the map: the development order zone, plan zone type, SEPA and map sheet are shown. For the exact rules and permits, apply to the municipality and the Town Planning Department.

Is the Kyrenia district in an earthquake zone?

Cyprus is an earthquake zone because of the Cyprus Arc south of the island. Since 1900, 1 earthquakes of magnitude 5 or above have been recorded within the Kyrenia district or 10 km of it; the largest was M5.5 in 1921. A soil survey and the earthquake regulations apply to any building.

See the planning status of your plot in Kyrenia

Open the North Cyprus workspace on the map: upload your plot as KML, draw it or tap the map to see the development order zone, plan zone type, SEPA, map sheet, amenities and earthquake data on one screen.

Open on the map

Sources: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) — administrative boundaries and amenities; ParselX North Cyprus planning database — development order and zoning plan areas, plan zones, SEPAs; USGS and GEM — earthquakes and active faults. Data compiled on 29 September 2026. Boundaries are simplified. This page is for information only; for official transactions the records of the Land Registry, the Town Planning Department and the municipality prevail.