ISSN 3103-7305 • International English Edition
Administrative Procedure
Diamond Open Access
Vol. 1, Issue 3 (2026) • Art. 6503 • pp. 1–6
Ex Officio Annulment of Administrative Acts for False Representation of Facts
Abstract
Under Article 21-nonies of Law no. 241/1990, the expiration of the statutory deadline for administrative revocation does not prevent the cancellation of a favorable act obtained through false factual representations. The exception applies without requiring a prior final criminal conviction, as administrative intervention aims at restoring objective legality, reducing the public authority's burden of reasoning due to the absence of legitimate expectations on the beneficiary's side.
Key Legal Takeaways
- Overriding the statutory time-bar: the existence of documentary and factual elements diverging from material reality authorizes ex officio annulment beyond ordinary statutory deadlines, without any obligation to await the outcome of criminal proceedings.
- Absence of protectable legitimate expectations: a private party who misleads the public administration through fallacious representations cannot invoke the protection of consolidated expectations, thereby easing the authority's burden of reasoning.
- Enforceability against successors in title: the restoration of the breached urban planning and building order possesses an in rem legal nature and prevails over the position of subsequent purchasers or donees of the unlawful property.
Suggested Scholarly Citation & Original Reference
International / OSCOLA Citation: Paola De Virgiliis, ‘Ex Officio Annulment of Administrative Acts for False Representation of Facts’ (2026) 1(3) Metodo Giuridico (ISSN 3103-7305) Art 6503, 1–6 <https://www.metodogiuridico.it/2026/11/06/annullamento-ufficio-falsa-rappresentazione-fatti-consiglio-stato-1515-2026/en/>
Original Italian Title: L’annullamento d’ufficio per falsa rappresentazione dei fatti — License: Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.
