Applying for a planning permit
Are you planning to build or demolish something in your garden or next to your home? For example, do you intend to build a garage or cut down a tree? If so, you will often need a planning permit (omgevingsvergunning). You can apply for this permit via the Omgevingsloket. In some cases you only need to notify the authorities, and no permit is required.
You need a planning permit for various activities in your garden or in and around your house, such as:
- construction;
- demolition;
- building a driveway;
- modifying, renovating or restoring a listed building;
- cutting down trees.
Go to the Omgevingsloket (online environment portal) to check whether you require a planning permit (in Dutch) or if just a notification is sufficient.
You can apply for a planning permit via the Omgevingsloket (in Dutch).
This is how it works for you
Here is some information from your municipality.
Municipality of Zaanstad: Applying for a planning permit
Do you want to know whether you need an omgevingsvergunning (planning permit)? You can do an online vergunningcheck (permit check) at the Omgevingsloket online (planning permit online service desk) in Dutch.
This is how you apply for planning permission:
- Go to the Omgevingsloket online.
- Do the vergunningcheck.
- See whether you need a permit.
- You can apply for the permit immediately online or in writing. Use the Omgevingsloket for both options. Log in:
* for yourself: with DigiD
* for a company: with eHerkenning
You pay legal costs for processing your permit application. Even if you do not get the permit. You will receive an assessment from the municipality for this. The costs for the handling of environmental permits can be found via the online Rate Table. In the regulation is regulated the levying of fees: Chapter 2, paragraph 19 of the appendix deals with all costs for environmental permits.
For the most common types of construction, renovation or expansion plans around homes in Zaanstad that private individuals may be confronted with, a simplified overview has been made with the applicable administrative costs.
After a planning permit has been applied for, you will receive a first confirmation of receipt after a few days. The period of the permit procedure only starts after the municipality has received your formal permit application. You can find this date in the confirmation of receipt. Two weeks after the confirmation of receipt, you will receive a message about how much time your application will take. There are two possible procedures for handling your application:
Regular procedure
The regular procedure applies to the most common and simple applications, for example building a house that fits within the applicable planning rules. The time to make a decision is eight weeks, but can be extended once for another six weeks. If the municipality does not issue the permit on time, it will be granted automatically. If additional information is required or if the application is examined for a longer period of time, the term will be adjusted accordingly and the application may take longer. If so, you will be notified.
Comprehensive procedure
The extensive procedure applies to complex projects where the municipality has to deal with different interests and stakeholders. These parties must view documents in order to be able to respond to them. The extended procedure can take six months and may be extended once by six weeks. If additional information is required or if the application is deferred, the term will be adjusted accordingly and the application will take longer. If so, you will be notified.
The list of permit applications and decisions are published in the announcements (in Dutch).
Do you disagree with the decision? If so, you can lodge a complaint. The following applies:
- For a standard permit (8 weeks), you must lodge a complaint within 6 weeks of the decision being made and published.
- For an extended permit (26 weeks), the initial decision is a pending decision. You can submit your response within 6 weeks. After that a final decision will be issued.
Good to know
You may start work only once you have received the permit. If you start earlier, you may be required to undo the work at your own expense.
Questions about this topic?
Contact the Municipality of Zaanstad