Türkiye lies in an active earthquake region, and many foreign buyers want to know if a home will hold up in a strong quake. No single document answers that. The building’s age, its paperwork, the hazard at its location and an engineering check together give you a clear picture. This guide covers what to check before you sign, as of November 2026.
Key points
- Türkiye’s current design code, the Türkiye Building Earthquake Regulation (TBDY 2018), came into force on 1 January 2019. Before it came the 2007 code, the 1998 code and the 1975 regulation.
- AFAD’s Türkiye Earthquake Hazard Map, published in 2018, lets you check the ground-shaking hazard for any coordinate at tdth.afad.gov.tr.
- Compulsory earthquake insurance (DASK) is required under Law No. 6305. Since 5 September 2026, the land registry looks for a new policy in the buyer’s name at the sale.
- Under Law No. 4708 of 2001, buildings within its scope are checked by a licensed building inspection firm. The occupancy permit (iskan) shows a building was finished in line with its permit.
- An owner can order an official risky building assessment under Law No. 6306 from a licensed firm. A concrete core test is part of it, but is not enough on its own.
This is general information, not engineering, legal or insurance advice. For a specific building, ask a licensed civil engineer and a lawyer.
Why the building’s age matters
Building codes set how strongly a structure must be designed for earthquakes. The ones buyers hear about most are:
- 1975 regulation. It was in use until the 1998 code replaced it.
- 1998 code. It came into force shortly before the 17 August 1999 Marmara earthquake. Engineers at Middle East Technical University (METU) note that it had little time to be tested in practice before 1999.
- 2007 code. The Regulation on Buildings to Be Constructed in Earthquake Zones was published on 6 March 2007. The METU paper describes it as additions to the 1998 code with no major change in substance.
- TBDY 2018. It was published in the Official Gazette on 18 March 2018 (No. 30364) and came into force on 1 January 2019, repealing the 2007 code. It covers new buildings and the assessment and strengthening of existing ones, and uses hazard values for the exact location instead of the old zones.
A newer code only helps if the building was built to it, with sound materials and supervision. A well-built or strengthened older building can perform better than a poorly built newer one. Treat the construction year as a starting point, not a verdict.
What changed after 1999
Building inspection. Law No. 4708 on Building Inspection was adopted on 29 June 2001 and published on 13 July 2001. Buildings within its scope must be inspected by licensed firms owned by architects and engineers, which check the project, materials and workmanship and report when the building is finished in line with its project. Some small buildings are exempt, such as detached homes of up to two storeys and 200 m² of floor area.
Compulsory earthquake insurance. It was first introduced by Decree-Law No. 587 and is now set out in the Disaster Insurance Law No. 6305 of 2012.
Check the location: AFAD’s hazard map
In 2018, AFAD (the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency) published a new Türkiye Earthquake Hazard Map with several universities and the mineral research agency MTA. It replaced the old numbered earthquake zones with ground acceleration values and takes local ground conditions into account.
To check a location:
- Open tdth.afad.gov.tr, the interactive map.
- Enter the coordinates of the plot, for example copied from a map app.
- Read the hazard values for the point.
This is a hazard map, not a building risk map. It shows how strongly the ground may shake, not how a building will perform.
Fethiye and the Muğla coast
The Fethiye area has a known seismic history. In April 1957 two strong earthquakes hit the Fethiye area and caused heavy damage. A 2013 hazard analysis by the Muğla Provincial Disaster and Emergency Directorate names the Fethiye–Burdur Fault Zone as the main source of earthquake hazard. It notes that Fethiye was in a first-degree zone on the old map, and that the town centre sits on young alluvial deposits, with shallow groundwater and built-up coastal fill near the shore.
On 10 June 2012, a magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck the Gulf of Fethiye. According to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre, it caused no deaths and only slight damage.
On the coastal plain, the ground under a building matters as much as its code, so ask about the ground survey (zemin etüdü) for newer projects. See our guide to living in Fethiye for more on the area.
Check the paperwork
Occupancy permit (iskan). The municipality issues the yapı kullanma izin belgesi when a building is finished in line with its permit. For buildings under Law 4708, the inspection firm’s completion report is part of this. A building without iskan may have unapproved changes. Our iskan guide explains how to check it.
Title deed notes. Under the Law 6306 regulation, a building found to be risky is recorded in the declarations section (beyanlar) of the title deed. The owner can see these notes on e-Devlet under TKGM’s "Tapu Bilgileri Sorgulama" service. Ask the seller to show the current record, or follow our guide to checking a Turkish title deed.
Riskli Yapı Tespiti on e-Devlet. This Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change service shows assessments already carried out. No record does not mean a building is safe.
Building identity QR codes. Since December 2023, the Ministry has fixed QR codes to the entrances of many buildings under its Building Identity System (Bina Kimlik Sistemi). Scanning one shows general information. Not every building has one.
Look for changes. Removed columns or walls and extra floors can weaken a building. Compare what you see with the approved plans at the municipality.
Ordering a structural check
Under Law No. 6306 on the transformation of areas at disaster risk, owners or their legal representatives can order a risky building assessment (riskli yapı tespiti). Under its implementing regulation:
- The application is made electronically to an institution licensed by the Ministry. Licensed firms can work anywhere in the country.
- The owners pay. There is no fixed national price; it depends on the building’s size, height, structure and number of samples.
- The report goes to the provincial directorate. If the building is found risky, the land registry is notified and the owners can object within 15 days of the notice at the muhtarlık.
The assessment usually includes a concrete core test (karot testi): small cylinders are drilled from load-bearing members and crushed in a laboratory to measure concrete strength. Engineers also check the rebar, column and beam sizes, joints and layout. A core test alone does not show if a building is earthquake-resistant.
The official assessment is ordered by owners, so before you buy you can:
- Ask the seller or building manager for any existing assessment.
- With the seller’s consent, hire an independent civil engineer to review the drawings and the building.
- Make the purchase depend on a satisfactory report in the preliminary contract.
If a building is found risky, it may go into urban renewal. In Istanbul, see our explainer on the "Half is on us" urban transformation support.
DASK earthquake insurance
Who needs it. Under Law No. 6305, the policy is compulsory for homes on registered, privately owned land. Buildings used wholly for non-residential purposes are exempt. Water and electricity companies check for a policy when you open an account.
At the sale. The land registry will not register a sale unless a valid policy is shown for the transaction date. Under a change to the DASK General Conditions in force since 5 September 2026, the seller’s policy ends on the date of registration. The buyer needs a separate new policy in their own name. The seller can ask for a refund of the unused premium.
What it covers. The policy covers damage to the building caused by the earthquake itself and by fire, explosion, tsunami or landslide that follow it. It does not cover belongings, rent loss or injury, and a 2% deductible of the sum insured applies to each claim.
How cover and premiums work. The sum insured is the floor area multiplied by a set cost per square metre, up to a maximum. On policies starting from 1 January 2024, DASK raises cover each month in line with inflation. Dünya reported that from 1 July 2026 the maximum for one home was 2,407,723 TL, and the rate for reinforced concrete buildings was 11,357 TL per square metre. Check the current figure on dask.gov.tr.
Under the DASK tariff (as amended to 1 January 2026), the premium depends on:
- the risk group of the address (seven groups, based on the hazard map and ground conditions),
- the construction type (steel or reinforced concrete, or other),
- the floor area,
- a 10% surcharge for buildings with a permit from before 2000,
- a 10% discount for buildings with three or fewer floors above ground, and a 10% surcharge for eight or more.
Step-by-step before you buy
- Check the plot’s hazard on tdth.afad.gov.tr.
- Find the permit year and the iskan date.
- Check the deed declarations and the e-Devlet risk record.
- Look for structural changes against the approved plans.
- Get an existing assessment or an independent engineer’s review.
- Make the purchase conditional on the checks.
- Take out a new DASK policy in your name before the deed appointment.
For the wider process, read our guide to buying property in Turkey as a foreigner.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Is a building completed after 2019 automatically earthquake-safe?
A: No. It was designed to the current code, but safety also depends on the ground, materials, workmanship and later changes.
Q: Can I check online if a building is risky?
A: Only partly. The e-Devlet "Riskli Yapı Tespiti" service and the deed declarations show assessments already made, but no tool rates a building from its address.
Q: Who pays for a risky building assessment?
A: The owners, under the Law 6306 regulation. Prices vary by building.
Q: Is the seller’s DASK policy transferred to me?
A: Not since 5 September 2026. The seller’s policy ends at registration, and you need a new policy in your name for the sale.
Q: Does DASK cover my furniture?
A: No. It covers the building only; belongings need separate home insurance.
Planning to buy? Download our free property guide for a step-by-step checklist.
Sources
- Türkiye Building Earthquake Regulation (TBDY): Official Gazette 18/03/2018 No. 30364 (1st repeated); in force 1/1/2019; repeals 2007 regulation; covers new buildings and assessment/strengthening of existing ones (Lexpera)
- Regulation on Buildings to Be Constructed in Earthquake Zones, Official Gazette 06/03/2007 No. 26454 (Alomaliye)
- METU Disaster Management Centre: TBDY 2018 to enter force early 2019; AFAD Türkiye Earthquake Hazard Map announced 2018; 1975 and 1998 regulations; 2007 additions without substantial change
- Cumhuriyet: history of earthquake regulations (1975, 1998, 2007); 2018 regulation published 18 March 2018, in force 1 January 2019
- Bloomberg HT (20 March 2018): AFAD opens hazard query at tdth.afad.gov.tr; acceleration-based map replaces degree zones; local soil conditions considered; prepared with METU, Boğaziçi, Akdeniz, Çukurova, Sakarya universities and MTA
- AFAD Türkiye Earthquake Hazard Maps interactive web application
- Law No. 4708 on Building Inspection: adopted 29/06/2001, Official Gazette 13/07/2001 No. 24461; scope, exemptions, inspection firm duties (Alomaliye)
- Disaster Insurance Law No. 6305 (Official Gazette 18/05/2012 No. 28296): scope Art. 10, land registry and utility checks Art. 11, maximum cover set yearly Art. 13 (TSB text)
- Decree-Law No. 587 on Compulsory Earthquake Insurance (Lexpera)
- Compulsory Earthquake Insurance General Conditions, consolidated version in force 04/09/2026: covered perils, exclusions (contents, rent loss, bodily injury), 2% deductible, sum insured = m² rate x gross area (Lexpera)
- SEDDK change to DASK General Conditions from 05/09/2026: separate new policy in buyer’s name checked at land registry; seller’s policy ends at registration; unused premium refunded on application (Alomaliye, 28 Aug 2026)
- Compulsory Earthquake Insurance Tariff and Instruction Communiqué (version in force 01/01/2026): risk groups I-VII, construction types, pre-2000 permit 10% surcharge, floor-count discount/surcharge (Lexpera)
- Dünya: DASK maximum cover 2,407,723 TL from 1 July 2026; reinforced concrete 11,357 TL/m², other 7,571 TL/m²
- Sözcü (29 Dec 2023): DASK cover on policies starting from 1 January 2024 rises monthly with inflation
- DASK (Natural Disaster Insurance Institution)
- Law No. 6306 Implementing Regulation (consolidated, last amended 04/02/2026): owner-commissioned assessments at own cost, licensed institutions nationwide, report to provincial directorate, land registry declaration, 15-day objection (Lexpera)
- Milli Gazete (10 Oct 2026): e-Devlet ‘Riskli Yapı Tespiti’ shows past assessments only; licensed institutions; core test not sufficient alone; no single national price
- Yeni Asır (8 Oct 2026): ‘Riskli Yapı’ notation visible via e-Devlet TKGM ‘Tapu Bilgileri Sorgulama’
- Cumhuriyet (16 Dec 2023): Building Identity System with QR codes launched in 81 provinces; residents see more detail on e-Devlet
- Muğla Provincial Disaster and Emergency Directorate: Fethiye Disaster Hazard Analysis (2013) – Fethiye-Burdur Fault Zone, 1957 earthquakes, first-degree zone on old map, alluvial ground, coastal fill (GEKA)
- EMSC: M6.0 10 June 2012 Gulf of Fethiye earthquake – no deaths, slight damage
Photo: Maurice Flesier / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
