Environmental Permit and Licence: A Guide for Businesses
This guide is written for business owners and managers who operate, or plan to set up, a facility whose activities may affect the environment. In plain language, we explain what an environmental permit and licence is, which facilities it covers, the steps an application goes through and what to watch out for in practice.
What Is an Environmental Permit and Licence, and Which Businesses Does It Cover?
An environmental permit and licence is the official document that facilities with a potential polluting effect on the environment must obtain under the Çevre İzin ve Lisans Yönetmeliği (the Turkish Regulation on Environmental Permits and Licences) currently in force. The document shows that the facility operates in line with the legislation on matters such as air emissions, wastewater discharge, noise and waste processing.
The regulation classifies facilities into two lists according to their environmental impact. Facilities in the Annex-1 (Ek-1) list are considered to have a "high polluting effect on the environment", and their applications are assessed by the Çevre, Şehircilik ve İklim Değişikliği Bakanlığı (Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change). Facilities in the Annex-2 (Ek-2) list are those with "a polluting effect on the environment", and they are assessed by the provincial directorates.
Which list you fall under depends on the type of activity and the capacity of the facility. Energy generation, mining, the metal and chemical industries, food and agricultural product processing, waste processing facilities and production facilities above certain capacities are examples of activities included in these lists. Businesses not on the lists are not required to obtain an environmental permit; however, other environmental obligations, such as waste management, still apply to them.
The name of the document issued depends on the activity. If the facility is subject only to permit topics such as emissions, discharge or noise, an Environmental Permit Certificate (Çevre İzin Belgesi) is issued; if it also carries out an activity that requires a licence, such as waste recovery, an Environmental Permit and Licence Certificate (Çevre İzin ve Lisans Belgesi) is issued.
How Does the Environmental Permit and Licence Process Work, Step by Step?
The process moves through scope assessment, the Temporary Activity Certificate, measurement and analysis, and finally obtaining the final certificate. Follow-up does not end once the certificate is issued; updates are needed as the facility's circumstances change.
1. Scope and Status Assessment
The first step is to determine whether the facility falls under the Annex-1 or Annex-2 list and which permit topics it is subject to. At this stage, the facility's ÇED (Environmental Impact Assessment) status, zoning and licensing information, production capacity and processes are reviewed together. Placing the facility in the wrong category affects every step that follows.
2. Temporary Activity Certificate (GFB) Application
Once the scope is clear, the application is made through UÇBS (Ulusal Çevre Bilgi Sistemi – National Environmental Information System), the Ministry's online system. If the application is found suitable, the facility is granted a Geçici Faaliyet Belgesi (Temporary Activity Certificate, GFB). The GFB is a time-limited interim document that allows the facility to have the required measurements carried out and complete any shortcomings; the final application must be completed within this period.
3. Measurement, Analysis and Reporting
During the GFB period, the facility's emission, wastewater and noise levels are measured by laboratories authorised by the Ministry. The results are reported, and the technical documents required for each permit topic are prepared. If measurement results exceed the limit values, corrective measures may need to be taken and the measurements repeated.
4. Obtaining the Final Certificate
Once the measurement results and technical documents have been uploaded to the system and approved by the authority, the facility is issued an Environmental Permit Certificate or an Environmental Permit and Licence Certificate. The certificate's validity period and renewal conditions are defined in the regulation; submitting the renewal application on time is the business's responsibility.
5. Follow-up After Certification
Situations such as a capacity increase, a process change, or a change of address or trade name may require the certificate to be updated. Periodic measurements, waste declarations and the obligations relating to the environmental officer or environmental management unit must also be carried out regularly.
Documents and Information to Prepare for the Application
Before applying, the facility's legal, technical and environmental information must be compiled into a complete file. Although it varies by type of facility, the general checklist is as follows:
Documents showing the trade name, tax details and signing authority
The business opening and operating licence, or information on the licensing process
The decision issued under the ÇED Regulation, or the letter confirming the project is outside its scope
Title deed or lease agreement, and documents on zoning status
Site plan, process flow diagram and capacity information
A list of the raw materials, fuels and chemicals used
Emission sources, stack information and any filtration or treatment systems
Wastewater sources, discharge point and documents relating to the treatment plant
Noise sources and information on nearby residential areas
Waste types, temporary storage area and the waste management plan
Measurement and analysis reports from authorised laboratories
Not every item will apply to every facility; the documents required are determined by the permit topics identified during the scope assessment.
Common Mistakes and Points to Watch
The problems frequently encountered in the environmental permit process relate to defining the scope incorrectly and overlooking deadlines. These are the points where businesses tend to get stuck in practice:
Assuming the facility is out of scope: A capacity increase or a new process can bring a previously out-of-scope facility onto the list.
Not making good use of the GFB period: Leaving measurements to the last stage creates a risk that the final application cannot be completed on time.
Not preparing before measurements: Missing infrastructure, such as a stack measurement platform or sampling point, can delay measurements.
Not reporting changes: Failing to reflect changes in capacity, process or trade name in the system may be treated as non-compliance during an inspection.
Missing the renewal date: When the certificate expires, the facility may find itself operating without a permit.
Treating regulations in isolation: The environmental permit is linked to the ÇED, waste management and business licence processes, and a gap in one can affect the others.
Activities that breach the legislation may result in sanctions under current environmental legislation, such as administrative fines and suspension of operations. For this reason, the environmental permit should be treated not as a one-off task but as an obligation that requires ongoing follow-up.
Notes for Businesses in Antalya
In Antalya, environmental permits and licences are particularly relevant to industry, agricultural product processing, construction materials production and large tourism facilities. Production facilities in organised industrial zones, crushing and screening plants, ready-mixed concrete plants, fruit and vegetable processing and packaging facilities, and feed and food production facilities are among the businesses that should be assessed in this respect.
For tourism facilities, the situation depends on how the facility is set up. Hotels with their own wastewater treatment plant, large-capacity combustion systems (boilers, generators) or a direct discharge point should check whether they are subject to permit topics. In coastal areas, discharge and receiving environment conditions are especially important.
Applications from Annex-2 facilities are assessed by the Antalya Çevre, Şehircilik ve İklim Değişikliği İl Müdürlüğü (Antalya Provincial Directorate of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change). To clarify your facility's status and plan the process from start to finish, you can get support through our environmental consultancy service. If you are wondering why environmental consultancy is necessary for businesses, you can also read our article "Why Is Environmental Consultancy Mandatory in Antalya?".
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know whether I need an environmental permit?
If your facility's type of activity and capacity appear in the Annex-1 or Annex-2 list of the Çevre İzin ve Lisans Yönetmeliği, you need to obtain an environmental permit. Because the lists contain technical definitions and capacity thresholds, it is advisable to carry out the assessment together with your process information. If you are unsure, you can ask an environmental consultancy firm for a scope assessment.
What is the difference between a Temporary Activity Certificate and an environmental permit certificate?
The Temporary Activity Certificate is a time-limited interim document that allows the facility to have its measurements carried out and complete any shortcomings. The Environmental Permit Certificate or Environmental Permit and Licence Certificate is the final document, issued once the measurement results and technical documents have been approved. The final application must be completed within the GFB period.
Where do I apply for an environmental permit?
Applications are made through UÇBS (Ulusal Çevre Bilgi Sistemi – National Environmental Information System), the Ministry's online system. Applications for Annex-1 facilities are assessed by the Ministry, and those for Annex-2 facilities by the provincial directorates. Before applying, the company's registration and authorisation procedures in the system must be completed.
Is there anything I need to do after obtaining an environmental permit certificate?
Yes. After the certificate is issued, periodic measurements, waste declarations and compliance with the certificate's conditions must be monitored. The certificate may need to be updated if there are changes in capacity, process, address or trade name. The renewal application must also be submitted before the certificate expires.
To find out whether your facility falls within the scope of environmental permits and licences, or to plan the process together, you can get in touch with Asel Çevre Danışmanlık.
Written by Uğraş Taylan Sevinç, Environmental Engineer, Asel Çevre Danışmanlık.
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