The Addis Ababa Land Development and Administration Bureau has approved the legalisation of nearly 3,000 leased properties that had changed their service purpose without prior authorisation, in a move expected to generate 2.4 billion birr in revenue during the current fiscal year.

According to the Bureau, a total of 2,969 properties were found to have altered their designated service without official consent. Under the amended Urban Land Lease Regulation No. 162/2016, Article 54 (sub-articles 1–11), leaseholders were given the opportunity to regularise their status through formal applications and advance payments.

Of these, 2,581 leaseholders—representing about 86 percent—have already made the required prepayments and are now cleared to continue operations legally. The remaining property holders are expected to complete the process by Ginbot 30, 2018 Ethiopian Calendar.

Officials said the measure aims to bring irregular property use into compliance with city regulations, strengthen urban land management, and improve revenue collection. The Bureau noted that leaseholders who fail to regularise their status within the deadline risk losing their rights under city land laws.