Obtaining your planning and environmental permits.

Are you a developing or established entrepreneur? Need to apply for a planning or environmental permit? We’re here to help you obtain the permits you need.

What is planning permission?

Planning permission is an authorisation attached to a building that defines its use, external appearance, load-bearing structures, etc. Some plots are also covered by planning permission.

Firstly, you must determine whether your project requires new permission for certain types of work (e.g. construction, demolition, change of use, felling a tall tree, significantly modifying the ground relief, erecting a sign, chimney or shutter, replacing a bay window).

How can the hub.brussels team help you with planning permission?

Our team provides personalised, free and confidential assistance to Brussels-based companies on issues relating to town planning in the Brussels-Capital Region:

we can advise you on the obligations associated with town planning and urban regulations
we determine whether your project is feasible and whether you need planning permission
we can help you put together the file and appendices you’re preparing
we help you understand the decisions of the administrative authorities

The role of hub.brussels is not to assist you in an appeal against a town planning authority decision. However, please note that the Brussels Chamber of Commerce (BECI) can advise you on the initial steps to take. You can find out more here (FR).

The different stages for compiling your application in three instructional videos are available in French and Dutch. Feel free to visit our website or our Youtube channel.

They benefited from this service...

Caroline Pickett

Social laundry project in Anderlecht

Finding oneself in the maze of permit applications required to launch an economic activity is sometimes a real obstacle course. Thanks to hub.brussels and my advisor, I was able to submit my permit applications in a timely manner. Their expertise, availability and pro-activity were indispensable to me to successfully complete my project.

What is an environmental permit?

An environmental permit is an administrative authorisation that requires a self-employed person, a private individual, a merchant or a craft or industrial company to take measures to guarantee the safety of neighbours or the public admitted to the building, to limit any disturbance caused by its installations, and to preserve the quality of the environment.

For example, this may involve ensuring a certain noise level or the maximum concentration of a certain product in the air are not exceeded.

Referred to as classified installations, installations subject to an environmental permit are divided into six classes, depending on their nature and the extent of the hazards they are likely to cause.

As a general rule, a single application for an environmental permit (class 1A, 1B, 1D or 2) or a single declaration (1C or 3) is submitted, bearing in mind that it is the most dangerous installation that defines the class.

How can hub.brussels help you fulfil your environmental obligations?

Our team provides free, confidential and personalised support to Brussels companies on all issues relating to the environment in the Brussels-Capital Region: management of soil, waste, water, energy and air emissions. We undertake to:

• analyse whether your application requires prior soil investigation or an energy audit
find out whether you are using the right waste disposal channels
determine with you whether you have classified installations
inform you of type of permit you need to obtain
help you compile a comprehensive application with all the required appendices
clarify, where necessary, the authorities’ administrative opinions and decisions, following an inspection for example

These people have benefited from this service...

Karim HANATI

Oui Oui Glaces et cookies

Thanks to hub.brussels, I was able to benefit from structure, information and above all support in obtaining an environmental permit. I was then able to obtain a grant with their help. hub.brussels is really the best support you can get for your business.

Find all the documents you need on the hub.info website!

Your environmental permit
Good examples of plans to provide with your application.
Your waste management obligations
Your noise pollution obligations
Your soil protection obligations
What is the energy performance certificate for buildings?

What are the conditions required to benefit from our expertise in environmental permits?

The expertise provided is reserved for those:

who have a company in Brussels
or plan to start one
provided it is not related to accommodation

However, we will not support you with:

class 3 environmental declarations (issued by the municipalities) and class 1C declarations (issued by Brussels Environment). The Brussels Environment website can help you;
appeal against administrative decisions. The Brussels Chamber of Commerce can help you with this.