Is there a time limit for applying for a rural homestead without building a house?

If the application for rural homestead has not been built within 2 years (except in special circumstances), the land use right certificate or relevant approval documents may be cancelled after the approval of the county people's government, and the village collective will recover the right to use the homestead.

Legal basis:

Article 15 of the Measures for the Administration of Rural Homestead may, with the approval of the county people's government, cancel its land use right certificate or relevant approval documents, and the village collective shall recover the right to use the homestead: (1) Construction has not started for two years since the date of approval of the homestead (except in special circumstances); (two) when the homestead is submitted for approval, it promises to the village collective to build a new house and demolish the old house without demolishing the old house by itself; (three) the village that has been approved to implement the transformation of the old village or the migration down the mountain has moved into the original homestead where the new house (village) lives; (four) obtaining approval or illegally transferring the homestead; (five) other circumstances in which the right to use the homestead should be recovered.