Certificato di Destinazione Urbanistica (CDU – Zoning Certificate

An official document issued by the Comune that states the urban zoning and allowed use of a plot of land according to the town plan. It lists the land parcel’s identification (foglio, particella) and its planning designation (e.g. agricultural, residential, industrial, etc.), including relevant planning parameters (like building index, maximum volume, constraints). A CDU is required, for instance, in the sale of land or whenever land is involved in a property transfer, to inform the buyer of what can be done on that land. It’s valid for 1 year. In practice, if you buy a house with surrounding land, the notary will often annex the CDU to the deed to satisfy legal requirements.