Dealing with Construction Permits in Belgium

The table below summarizes the procedures, time, and costs to build a warehouse in Belgium.

View all indicator data and topic details for this economy.

Change Selection

Data as of: January 2009
Estimated Warehouse Value: EUR 1,000,000
City: Brussels

	Procedure	Time to complete:	Cost to complete:
1	Obtain clearance from the fire department	14 days	EUR 50
2	Request building permit from the Municipality Office	75 days	EUR 680
3	Municipality Office inspects to check posting of building permit (after being informed of beginning of construction work)	1 day	no charge
4	Receive on-site inspection from tax administration	1 day	no charge
5	Receive on-site inspection from fire department after construction	1 day	no charge
6	Inform the Municipality office of the end of the construction works	1 day	no charge
*7	Request and receive inspection from sewage company on construction site	1 day	EUR 50
*8	Obtain sewage connection to the public sewage company	75 days	EUR 9,534
*9	Request and receive on-site inspection by the electricity company	1 day	EUR 2,725
*10	Obtain electricity connection from the utility provider	29 days	no charge
*11	Receive on-site inspection by the water company	1 day	no charge
*12	Obtain connection to water supply	42 days	EUR 7,068
*13	Request and receive on-site inspection by the telephone company	1 day	no charge
*14	Obtain telecommunications connection	35 days	EUR 202

* Takes place simultaneously with another procedure.

Procedure 1.: Obtain clearance from the fire department
Time to complete:: 14 days
Cost to complete:: EUR 50
Name of Agency:: Fire Department
Comment:: Some municipalities request a fire department report on the owner’s behalf.

Procedure 2.: Request building permit from the Municipality Office
Time to complete:: 75 days
Cost to complete:: EUR 680
Name of Agency:: Municipality
Comment:: The building permit request must be filed with the municipality along with drawings. In Brussels, an environmental impact report is not required for such warehouse construction. Moreover, the building permit expires in 2 years from issuance if construction has not started within that period. However, Buildco may also request an environmental permit from the same municipality if the warehouse is used for storing more than 500 tons (551 short tons) of paper. This additional procedure must be completed in 60 days. This permit is normally valid for 15 years from the date of the start of operations.

Procedure 3.: Municipality Office inspects to check posting of building permit (after being informed of beginning of construction work)
Time to complete:: 1 day
Cost to complete:: no charge
Name of Agency:: Municipality
Comment:: Upon being informed about the start of construction, the municipality checks whether the building permit is posted. A subsequent inspection may take place during construction. If the building permit is not posted, the municipality can request a halt to construction.

Procedure 4.: Receive on-site inspection from tax administration
Time to complete:: 1 day
Cost to complete:: no charge
Name of Agency:: Tax Administration
Comment:: Upon completion of construction, the tax administration inspects the site.

Procedure 5.: Receive on-site inspection from fire department after construction
Time to complete:: 1 day
Cost to complete:: no charge
Name of Agency:: Municipality
Comment:

Procedure 6.: Inform the Municipality office of the end of the construction works
Time to complete:: 1 day
Cost to complete:: no charge
Name of Agency:: Municipality
Comment:

Procedure 7.: Request and receive inspection from sewage company on construction site
Time to complete:: 1 day
Cost to complete:: EUR 50
Name of Agency:
Comment:: The site inspection occurs in about a week from the request (EUR 50 per site visit).

Procedure 8.: Obtain sewage connection to the public sewage company
Time to complete:: 75 days
Cost to complete:: EUR 9,534
Name of Agency:
Comment:: The EUR 9,534 quoted to request and obtain sewage connection is for a standard connection of high-density polyethylene, 200 millimeter (7.8 inch) by 3 meters deep. The price has been indexed since 2004.

Procedure 9.: Request and receive on-site inspection by the electricity company
Time to complete:: 1 day
Cost to complete:: EUR 2,725
Name of Agency:: Electrabel
Comment:: The electricity company inspects the construction about a week later, and it connects the electricity about 3 weeks later. Thus, it takes about 4 weeks (30 days) to obtain electrical service.

Procedure 10.: Obtain electricity connection from the utility provider
Time to complete:: 29 days
Cost to complete:: no charge
Name of Agency:: Electrabel
Comment:: BuildCo digs a trench, wire the building, and install the housing for the meters. The local electricity distribution company then carries out the connection to the street and supplies and installs the electricity meters. The total cost amounts to about EUR 1,500 to EUR 3,500, according to project specifications. Note that the connection is a maximum of 25 meters from the supply line. The price has been indexed since 2004.

Procedure 12.: Obtain connection to water supply
Time to complete:: 42 days
Cost to complete:: EUR 7,068
Name of Agency:
Comment:: The EUR7,068 quoted reflects the following standard fire department requirements, based on project specifications: (a) reels with central overhead water supply inside the building; (b) a water main for mural hydrants; (c) an external overhead fire hydrant near the building; and (d) a sprinkler system connected to the water supply. In addition, the cost depends on the type of gate and the diameter of the main pipe. A 3- to 4-inch pipe is required. The price has been indexed since 2004.

Procedure 13.: Request and receive on-site inspection by the telephone company
Time to complete:: 1 day
Cost to complete:: no charge
Name of Agency:: Belgacom
Comment:

Procedure 14.: Obtain telecommunications connection
Time to complete:: 35 days
Cost to complete:: EUR 202
Name of Agency:: Belgacom
Comment:: The price for a regular telephone line does not include any calling plan. The delivery of telecommunication service has deteriorated over the past 2 years. Whereas in the past, a telephone connection could be obtained in only a few days, it now takes up to 2 months.