Ottoman Building Permit Certificate 1918 from İzmir Municipality Architecture Empire
Ottoman Building Permit Certificate from İzmir Municipality – Abbas Ağa Street (1918)
Description:
This Ottoman Turkish document is titled “İzmir Daireyi Belediye Dahilinde Yapılacak Ebniyelerin Ruhsatını Havi İnşaat Tezkeresi,” an official municipal construction permit issued within the jurisdiction of the İzmir Municipality. Dated 18 April 1334 (18 April 1918), the document relates to renovation and structural modification permission granted for a residential property in late Ottoman İzmir.
The registered property owner is Asya Hanım, and the property is located on Abbas Ağa Street, identified as house number 36. According to the explanatory section of the document, permission was granted for the repair and modification of a two-story house situated on a parcel aligned with municipal urban planning regulations. The street width was to be maintained at eight arşın (approximately 6 meters), reflecting the growing emphasis on organized urban planning and regulated construction practices during the late Ottoman period.
The approved works included plaster repairs as well as the addition or restoration of a covered projection measuring approximately 4 square meters. Such architectural projections were characteristic features of Ottoman urban residential architecture and played an important role in the visual identity of late Ottoman neighborhoods.
To obtain this construction permit, a fee of 12 kuruş and 2 para was officially paid, demonstrating the structured municipal oversight and taxation system in place during this era. The document bears revenue stamps and official seals confirming its legal validity and municipal authorization.
Beyond its administrative function, this document offers valuable insight into the architectural and urban history of İzmir during the final years of the Ottoman Empire. It reflects the interaction between private property ownership, municipal planning regulations, and everyday urban life in one of the empire’s most cosmopolitan cities.
For collectors, the piece is particularly appealing due to its direct connection to Ottoman municipal governance and architectural regulation. Documents relating to construction permits and urban planning are relatively less common than standard title deeds, making this an attractive item for collectors of İzmir history, Ottoman architecture, and municipal ephemera.
Key Features:
• Type: Ottoman municipal construction permit (inşaat tezkeresi)
• Title: “İzmir Daireyi Belediye Dahilinde Yapılacak Ebniyelerin Ruhsatını Havi İnşaat Tezkeresi”
• Date: 18 April 1334 (18 April 1918)
• Location: İzmir, Abbas Ağa Street, House No. 36
• Property Owner: Asya Hanım
• Language: Ottoman Turkish
• Property Type: Two-story residential house
• Construction Details: Plaster repairs and restoration/addition of a 4 m² covered projection (çıkma)
• Urban Planning Note: Street width regulated to eight arşın (approximately 6 meters)
• Permit Fee: 12 kuruş 2 para
• Historical Context: Late Ottoman municipal regulation and urban planning in İzmir
• Physical Features: Revenue stamps and official seals present
• Collectible Significance: Valuable document relating to Ottoman architectural history and municipal administration