Applying for a planning permit for activities near water
Do you want to build a shed near water? Or construct a jetty? Then you may need an omgevingsvergunning voor een wateractiviteit – watervergunning (planning permit for activities near water). In some cases a permit is not required and a notification is sufficient. Or you must apply for an exemption.
Where you need to apply to for a permit for activities near water depends on where you are going to carry out your activity:
- Are you going to carry out activities in or near a ditch, stream, pond, dyke or road managed by a local water authority? If so, you must apply for a permit from your local water authority.
- Are you going to carry out activities at a highway, viaduct, tunnel, bridge, waterway or dyke that is managed by a province? Then you must apply for a permit or exemption from the province.
- Do you want to carry out an activity in or near a large river or lake, such as the Rhine, the Meuse or the IJsselmeer? Then you must apply for a permit from Rijkswaterstaat (executive agency of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management).
If you are not sure where you need to apply for a permit, contact the municipality where you intend to carry out your activity.
You may also need other permits for activities that you intend to carry out under other laws or regulations. One example is an omgevingsvergunning (planning permit). You can obtain information about this from the relevant municipality.
This is how it works for you
Here is some information from your province.
Water rights licence
If you are planning to carry out activities in surface water or with groundwater, or at a water infrastructure work like a bridge, you may then need a water rights licence (watervergunning). You can request this through the provincial authorities.
You wish to use groundwater, surface water or rainwater. The water permit does not relate to tap water.
You apply for the water permit via Omgevingsloket online. The water notification is also sent via Omgevingsloket online.
Questions about this topic?
Contact the Province of Utrecht
Visiting address
Archimedeslaan 6
3584BA Utrecht
| Monday | 08:30 - 17:00 |
| Tuesday | 08:30 - 17:00 |
| Wednesday | 08:30 - 17:00 |
| Thursday | 08:30 - 17:00 |
| Friday | 08:30 - 17:00 |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |