Building regulations

Your business premises in the Netherlands must comply with the building regulations. You will find these regulations in the Building Decree 2012 (Bouwbesluit 2012) as well as in your local building by-laws.

You must also comply with building regulations and layout requirements that are relevant to your specific business activities. Moreover, if you plan to build, rebuild or renovate, in most cases you will need an All-in-one Permit for Physical Aspects (omgevingsvergunning).

Building Decree 2012

If you plan to refurbish, build, demolish or occupy a building, you must comply with the Building Decree 2012. This decree contains the technical regulations that represent the minimum requirements for all structures in the Netherlands. The requirements relate to safety, health, usability, energy efficiency and the environment. The Praktijkboek Bouwbesluit 2012 (in Dutch) guides you through the Building Decree 2012.

Online tool regarding renovation work

With the online tool Verbouwkompas.nl (in Dutch) you can check which statutory requirements apply to your renovation work on a home (in the case of common types of renovation).

Municipal building rules

The municipal building rules relate to urban planning, building on contaminated land and requirements regarding the external appearance of buildings. Building rules can differ from one municipality to another.

Gas connections no longer obligatory

An amendment to the Gas Act has come into force on 1 July 2018, in which the legal obligation to connect newly built houses to gas is dropped. Municipalities are allowed to decide whether new homes are connected to district heating or another energy infrastructure. This legislation has been amended to help achieve the government's ambition to make all homes natural-gas-free in the coming years and to terminate natural gas extraction in Groningen as soon as possible. Other government measures to reduce the use of natural gas to combat climate change are also underway.