As an investor, developer or owner in Flanders, you know that the permit procedure for (re)construction plans often feels like a maze. Keeping track of the rules surrounding the environmental permit and notification requirement is a full-time job, and uncertainty too often leads to delays and unnecessary costs.
Good news: the Flemish government has listened to calls for administrative simplification. Since 1 March 2026, a new package of measures entered into force, including the amended Exemptions Decree and the amended Notification Decree. The focus is clearly on removing unnecessary procedures, which means that a lot of current works can now start much faster. It is crucial to be aware of these relaxations now to avoid surprises and plan projects efficiently.
Less Paperwork, More Freedom: The New Exemptions in Environmental Law
The most impactful change for the average property owner and developer is the significant relaxation of the authorisation and notification requirements for a range of urban planning acts.
Henceforth, numerous additional operations exempted from an environmental permit or a notification, provided some basic conditions are met.
What is Exempt from Licence now?
These relaxations ensure the smooth flow of projects that do not fundamentally change land use planning, but are essential for the liveability and sustainability of properties. Are exempt from permit in, on or near a property:
- Interior renovations: All interior alterations (including those involving stability works) to mainly licensed or authorised buildings will be exempt from an environmental permit from 1 March 2026. This applies provided there is no change of function requiring a permit and the number of residential units remains unchanged. However, an architect should still be consulted for interior alterations with stability works.
- Facades The main change here is that works on a façade are now also exempt. This is on condition that the energy performance of the building does not deteriorate and the physical building volume must not change. The exemption for installing insulation on the outside of facades and roofs remains. This as before on the condition that the building line is not crossed and the insulation thickness (including finishing) does not exceed 26 centimetres.
- Plug-in solar panels: The installation of solar panels and solar water heaters on the roof was already licence-free under certain conditions. For example, on a flat roof, they may extend a maximum of 1 metre above the roof edge, and on sloping roofs they must be integrated or placed on the roof surface. The new Exemption Decree now explicitly adds that they may also be attached to a facade or balcony (so no longer only on the roof). In practice, this mainly refers to the installation of plug-in solar panels on a balcony or facade.
Restriction of reporting requirement
At the same time, the scope of urban planning notifications has been significantly reduced. Many acts that used to require notification are now either completely exempted (such as interior alterations with stability works on licensed buildings) or, in some cases, require a permit again. The main change here is that you will again need a permit for an extension veranda and a notification will no longer suffice.
From now on, municipalities can only impose a permit obligation within a strictly limitative list of categories, determined by the Flemish Government (e.g. felling trees or acts on protected heritage). This brings much-needed clarity and uniformity to the various municipal rules.
Conclusion and Advice
The changes to Flemish environmental law from 1 March 2026 are a strong step forward for anyone building, renovating or investing in Flanders. The administrative burden is lightened and there is more room for efficiency, leading directly to faster realisation of your plans.
Nevertheless, the matter remains complex, especially when in doubt about the exact definition of a “mainly licensed building” or the precise conditions for an exemption. To ensure that you are not faced with any surprises - especially with environmental enforcement rules simultaneously becoming stricter from 1 April 2026 - expert advice is indispensable.
Confianz guides you in the preparation and submission of your permit applications, or, more importantly, we determine when this is no longer necessary. This ensures that your project is carried out legally correct and without unnecessary delays. Take contact contact Confianz for tailored advice.
