Bali authorities demolish villa built in Pejarakan's village forest area

In brief: Bali's provincial authorities carried out a villa demolition in Pejarakan, Buleleng, on 12 September 2026. Officials said the development was incompatible with the area's social forestry arrangements and lacked essential approvals.

The enforcement action took place in Goris Kemiri, part of Pejarakan Village in Gerokgak District, northern Bali. Governor Wayan Koster attended the operation. The village administration reported it on the day, while ANTARA published an account on 13 September and the provincial government issued a more detailed statement on 18 September.

A forest-management agreement was not a building permit

The land falls within Pejarakan's village forest, which is managed under Indonesia's social forestry framework by the local Wana Makmur forest-management body. That arrangement is based on a forestry ministry decision dated 5 June 2020. It does not turn the land into unrestricted private development land.

According to the Bali provincial government's statement, the villa was absent from the applicable social forestry management plan, known as the RKPS. Officials also identified missing building approval (PBG) and groundwater-use permission. Local reporting, citing officials involved in the enforcement, additionally described deficiencies in spatial-use conformity documentation (KKPR) and forestry-related business authorisations.

The owner had received three warnings and an opportunity to remove the building voluntarily, the government said. When that did not happen, provincial authorities proceeded with demolition on 12 September. The recorded action concerns this site; it does not establish that other villas across Buleleng have the same legal problems.

An investment allegation remains unresolved

Koster said authorities were looking into indications that a foreign party might have financed the development through a local person. This was an allegation under examination, not a finding against an identified investor. Neither the identity of any alleged financier nor a final determination of wrongdoing was established in the cited statements.

Officials also instructed the provincial environment and forestry agency to restore the land's forest function, including by planting trees. The announcement described an intended recovery process, not proof that reforestation had already been completed.

Land classification should be checked before funds are committed

The implications extend beyond the permits displayed for a finished villa. Someone taking a long lease, financing construction or acquiring an interest in accommodation on Bali needs to understand who controls the site, what its land-use designation permits and whether a proposed building fits the relevant management arrangements.

That is particularly important around forest and community-managed land, where an agreement with a local organisation may govern access without authorising permanent accommodation buildings. A sound review would examine the underlying land status, the counterparty's rights, spatial and forestry permissions, and building approvals together. Independent Indonesian legal advice is appropriate before committing significant money where those documents are unclear.

This September demolition is evidence of enforcement against a specific development. It is not evidence of an island-wide demolition campaign or a general verdict on property legality in North Bali.

• ANTARA News Bali — report on the Pejarakan villa demolition, 13 September 2026.
• Bali Provincial Government — statement on enforcement and permit deficiencies in Pejarakan Village Forest, 18 September 2026.
• Bali Post — report on the demolition order and building permissions, 12 September 2026.