Under the ANRE procedure, the gas installation is checked at least every 2 years and revised at least every 10 years, by an authorised firm you choose.
A gas installation unused for more than 6 months needs a technical revision before it is switched back on. This matters for a house that stands empty part of the year.
The March 2026 amendment to Law 307/2006 requires developers of collective housing to fit autonomous fire detectors. We found no such duty for a private house.
Fire safety in a private house in Romania: the short answer
In Romania, fire safety in a private house is the owner's responsibility. Under Law 307/2006 on fire protection, individuals are responsible for setting and applying fire-protection measures, and for the consequences if a fire breaks out (Art. 5). For a villa owner that comes down to three practical duties: checking the gas installation, looking after chimneys and heating systems, and keeping to the basic household rules.
The heaviest duty is gas. Under the procedure of the energy regulator (ANRE), the gas installation is checked at least every 2 years and given a technical revision at least every 10 years, by an authorised firm you choose.
Smoke detectors are a different story. The new duty to fit autonomous fire detectors, added to the law in March 2026, applies to developers of collective housing. We did not find a general duty of this kind for a detached house. We still recommend them.
In plain words: the law mostly binds you on gas and chimneys. Detectors are not mandatory in a villa, but they are the cheapest thing that saves lives.
What the rules say, and who they apply to
| Source | What it says | Relevance to a villa |
|---|---|---|
| Law 307/2006, Art. 5 and 6 | Personal responsibility for fire-protection measures, and a duty to follow the technical regulations | Every owner |
| Law 307/2006, Art. 6(4), since March 2026 | Developers of collective housing must equip homes with autonomous fire detectors | Collective buildings only, with a planning certificate (certificat de urbanism) issued after 13 March 2026 |
| Law 307/2006, Art. 14 | The mayor organises checks of fire rules in households through the voluntary emergency service | Someone may come to check |
| General fire-protection rules, Order 163/2007 of the Interior Ministry | Prohibitions and duties in private homes: electrics, gas bottles, chimneys, open fire | Every villa |
| ANRE procedure on gas checks (Order 179/2015) | A check every 2 years at most, a revision every 10 years at most | Every house on mains gas |
On fire-safety permits: the list of buildings that need a fire-safety approval or permit from the emergency inspectorate (ISU), under Government Decision 571/2016 in the 2022 consolidated form we read, includes collective residential buildings in certain cases, not a private house. In March 2026 the law told the government to update that list. If you are building, check with ISU Bucharest-Ilfov or your architect.
Gas: the 2-year check and the 10-year revision
The ANRE procedure separates two things:
- Technical check (verificare tehnică): at least every 2 years, or whenever you ask for it.
- Technical revision (revizie tehnică): at least every 10 years, and also after the installation has been out of use for more than 6 months, and after any event that could have affected it.
Three points that matter if you live abroad part of the year:
- The gas supplier sends a free notice at least 60 days before the due date, with the bill. Make sure the bill reaches an address or inbox you actually read.
- Only an ANRE-authorised firm that you choose can do the work, under a service contract.
- More than 6 months out of use means a technical revision before you switch the gas back on. A house that stands empty for a season needs to plan for this.
If the firm finds a leak or the safety conditions are not met, it may cut off the gas flow, and the network operator may suspend supply until the defect is fixed. Under the procedure, when the installation does not meet the safety conditions, one of the measures the owner must take is fitting an automatic gas detector that shuts off supply to the appliances.
Two more duties under the procedure: replace the flexible hose and the gas detectors before the end of the service life set by the manufacturer, and keep the technical documentation and the check records for the whole life of the installation.
Chimneys, fireplaces and wood stoves
The Interior Ministry's general rules (Order 163/2007) set a few clear points:
The law mostly binds you on gas and chimneys. Detectors are not mandatory in a villa, but they are the cheapest thing that saves lives.
- Checking, repairing, insulating and periodically cleaning chimneys is mandatory (Art. 85(3)).
- Before the cold season starts, heating systems in homes, including stoves, chimneys and flues, are checked and any defect is fixed (Art. 96).
- Defective, improvised or unattended stoves are prohibited, and so is lighting a fire with flammable liquid (Art. 85(2)).
- Combustible materials are kept at a safe distance from heat sources or protected (Art. 85(1)).
The order does not set a fixed cleaning frequency. But the ANRE procedure links the two: before a gas check or revision, the owner must show documents that chimneys and flue ducts were cleaned and checked by an authorised firm no more than 6 months earlier. The owner must also show that the periodic check of gas appliances, such as the boiler, is up to date. If you are still choosing between a gas boiler and a heat pump, see our comparison.
The garden: barbecues, burning garden waste, the shed
At a villa, part of the risk is outside the house. Under Order 163/2007:
- Cooking on an open fire in the garden is allowed only in a place set up for it, at a distance that stops the fire spreading to buildings, vegetation or neighbours (Art. 97(2)).
- Burning garden waste only in a prepared place, under constant supervision, with the embers put out at the end (Art. 97(3)).
- Fuel and flammable liquids for household use are kept only in closed metal containers, in a protected place, up to 25 litres (Art. 117).
- Gas bottles and fuel cans must not be stored in the attic (Art. 116).
Check the community rules too and, in summer, any burning bans announced by the town hall.
Detectors and extinguishers: what we recommend
| Measure | Mandatory in a villa? | Why it is worth it |
|---|---|---|
| Autonomous smoke detector | We found no general duty for a private house | Early warning at night, when everyone is asleep |
| Carbon monoxide detector | We found no general duty | A gas boiler, a fireplace or a wood stove can produce an odourless gas |
| Gas detector with automatic shut-off | Required under the ANRE procedure when the installation fails the safety conditions | Shuts the gas before a leak becomes an explosion |
| Extinguisher or fire blanket in the kitchen | Recommended in Order 163/2007, Art. 119 | Deals with a small fire before it grows |
The Interior Ministry order recommends an extinguisher or a fire blanket in the kitchen. It is a recommendation, not a duty. For a house with a fireplace, a gas boiler and a garage, we recommend a smoke detector on every floor and in the bedroom corridor, and a carbon monoxide detector near the boiler room and the fireplace.
Checklist for a villa owner
- Ask the developer or seller for the gas installation file and the date of the last check. What else to ask for in a new house is in our construction quality guide.
- Put the next check in your calendar, 2 years after the last one, and the revision at 10 years.
- Before every winter: chimney and heating system cleaned and checked by an authorised firm, and keep the receipt.
- Fit smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and test them once a month.
- Keep an extinguisher or fire blanket in the kitchen and near the fireplace.
- House empty for more than 6 months: plan a gas revision before you switch back on.
- Check your insurance: the compulsory PAD policy does not cover fire. See our home insurance guide.
The yearly cost of checks like these is in our villa upkeep costs guide.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to fit smoke detectors in a private house in Romania?
We did not find a general duty of this kind. The March 2026 amendment to Law 307/2006 requires developers of collective housing to fit autonomous detectors in homes, for projects whose planning certificate was issued after the amendment came into force. For a private house it is a strong recommendation, not a duty.
How often is the gas installation checked?
Under the ANRE procedure, a technical check at least every 2 years and a technical revision at least every 10 years. A revision is also required after more than 6 months out of use. The work is done by an ANRE-authorised firm you choose.
What happens if the check finds a problem?
You must fix it. If safety conditions are not met, the firm may cut off the gas flow, and in the case of a leak the network operator may suspend supply until the repair.
Does a villa need a fire-safety permit?
In the list under Government Decision 571/2016, in the 2022 version we checked, a private house does not appear. The list is due to be updated after the March 2026 amendment. If you are building or changing a building's use, ask your architect or ISU Bucharest-Ilfov.
Does the compulsory home insurance cover fire?
No. The compulsory PAD policy covers earthquake, flood and landslide only. Fire is covered only by optional insurance.
The bottom line
In a Romanian villa, the law focuses on gas and chimneys. Put the check dates in your calendar, have the chimney cleaned before every winter, and add detectors and an extinguisher even though nobody makes you.
If you are thinking of buying a villa in Romania, with us or anywhere else, book a 30-minute call with me. We will go through the technical documents worth asking for before you sign.
Moti Azulay, Compass Group Romania
Sources: Law 307/2006 on fire protection, text updated to October 2026 (rubinian.com), Art. 5, 6, 14, 30 and 30^2 · Interior Ministry Order 163/2007, General fire-protection rules (PDF), Art. 85, 96, 97, 116, 117 and 119 · ANRE procedure on checks and revisions of gas installations, Order 179/2015 (lege5.ro), Art. 3, 5, 6, 8, 10 and 11 · Government Decision 571/2016, 2022 consolidated form (ISU Timiș, PDF)
This article is for general information only and is not legal, tax or financial advice. The rules are correct as of 22 October 2026. The official legislation portal (legislatie.just.ro) was unavailable while we wrote, so we used consolidated texts from other sources. Before works or decisions, check with an authorised firm, your architect or ISU Bucharest-Ilfov.
Now you know more.
This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Consult local professionals before any transaction.
