Do you need an environmental permit?
Do you want to build, remodel or demolish something? Cut down a tree in your yard? Put up a billboard at your business? You may need an environmental permit to do so. The permits for building, housing, monuments, space, nature and environment are combined in the environmental permit. This allows you to arrange several permits online at once. There is now only one application and one procedure. What you need to do is described below in 5 steps.
Under certain circumstances, the municipality may also check your application against the Bibob Act. The full name of the Bibob Act is 'Wet Bevordering Integriteitsbeoordelingen door het openbaar bestuur'. A 'Bibob investigation' can take place, for example, if the construction costs exceed €500,000.
With the Bibob Act, the government wants to prevent a particular license it issues from being misused for criminal activities. Consider, for example, the issue of a license to operate a bar that has been set up to launder black money from drug trafficking.
What to do.
Currently in progress: 1.Check if you need an environmental permit
You have a plan to build something. If so, it may be helpful to first request copies of the construction drawings of your existing home from the municipality. To do this, visit:
View or request construction file or construction drawing
Furthermore, first check whether an environmental permit is required. To do so, do the Permit Check via the website of the Environment Desk (log in as a private individual with DigiD or as a company with eRecognition). The Permit Check tells you which activities require an environmental permit.
In some cases, you may build without applying for a permit. If your plan does not require a permit, you can get started right away. Even if you don't need a permit, there are health and safety rules you must follow. These rules come from neighbor law (see step 3) and the building code. This contains minimum building requirements that a structure must meet. These are requirements about safety, strength, environment, energy use and comfort.
If you apply for an environmental permit, the permit may also have disadvantages for nature. This is because the preservation of protected areas, plant or animal species may be at risk. Clearly indicate this in the application. You will find more information about this at the bottom of the page under the heading Nature Protection.
Note! The check does not apply to activities that deviate from the environmental plan. You must therefore find out for yourself whether your plan fits within the environmental plan. By the way, you can also request a preliminary consultation for this (see step 2).
If your plan fits into the environmental plan, your plan will be reviewed against the building code.
Does your plan deviate from the environmental plan?
Then sometimes it can still be realized with an environmental permit for deviation. For more information, go to step 5.Currently in progress: 2.Pre-consultation
Not sure if your plan meets all the requirements?
You should have first checked through the Omgevingsloket whether you need a permit to build, change the use of a building and land, or cut down a tree. But are you in doubt? Or do your plans not meet the aesthetics criteria or the environment plan?
You can then ask us for advice on your (concept) plans. We do this with a preliminary consultation (the former principle request).
Currently in progress: 3.Consultation with local residents
If your draft plan fits within the environmental plan, discuss your plans with local residents or other stakeholders first.
Even if you are allowed to build permit-free! Consider the so-called neighbor law. This is because the Civil Code provides rules for rights and duties between neighbors.
With larger projects, you may also have been told that you must conduct an environmental dialogue (participation). This means that you must coordinate your plan with residents and businesses in your area. This will make it clear to us if there are any objections to your plan.
The Environmental Dialogue page has more information on how to get started with this.
If your plan does not fit within the environmental plan, we will assess whether your application has a chance of success. Look at step 5 for this.
Currently in progress: 4.Application for environmental permit or notification
Once you have reviewed your plan and consulted with your neighbors, you can apply for the environmental permit right away.
To do this, go to the Omgevingsloket (log in as an individual with DigiD or as a company with eHerkenning)
If the building plan falls within Consequence Class 1 of the Wkb, a quality assurance contractor will need to be engaged. read more on the Wkb and omgevingswet page
Currently in progress: 5.If your plan deviates from the environmental plan (formerly zoning)
If your plan deviates from the zoning plan (environmental plan), it can sometimes still be realized with an environmental permit for deviation. If so, first have the municipality assess whether it makes sense to apply for a variance.
Your plan will then be officially reviewed by the "Intake Table"; namely, whether the deviation from the zoning plan is conceivable and whether your plan is broadly feasible.
Read more here:
Nature Protection
If you apply for an environmental permit, the permit may also have disadvantages for nature. This is because the preservation of protected areas, plant or animal species may be at risk. Indicate this clearly in the application. You then have the following choices:
- You apply to the province for a nature conservation permit or exemption. The province assesses only the impact on nature. The province may impose special requirements, such as ecological guidance. Then you apply to the municipality for an environmental permit. The municipality then does not assess the consequences for nature.
- You apply to the municipality for an environmental permit. In doing so, you ask that a nature assessment also be carried out. This means that the municipality also assesses the consequences for nature. The municipality will ask the province for a declaration of no objection. The municipality will include the Vvvb in the decision on your application. Does the province refuse the vvgb? Then the municipality will reject your permit application.