Monument remodeling, repair or maintenance

How does it work?

You often need a permit for changes or maintenance to built monuments. Built monuments are buildings, parks or statues designated as monuments by the state or municipality.

Do you want to perform work on a monument ? Then you need an environmental permit for the following work:

• demolition, disturbance, relocation or alteration of all or part of the monument
• Repairing or (allowing) the use of the monument which marred or endangered it

No permit required

You do not need a permit for normal maintenance of a monument. This is work to preserve what is there. You also do not need a permit if the monumental value is not reduced by the work. For example, sanding and painting in the same color, replacing broken windows, putting up thatched roofs or replacing roof tiles.

What to do.

• Check through the Environment Counter to see if you need to apply for a permit.
• Before you apply for the permit, explain to the municipality what you want to do. The municipality can then immediately tell you whether this is possible and allowed. This will prevent you from submitting an application that is later rejected.
• Apply for the permit through Omgevingsloket online.
• If it is not a major remodel, apply for the permit at least 8 weeks in advance.
• If it does involve a major renovation, do so at least 6 months in advance.
• For a major renovation, the municipality first makes a draft decision on your application.
• If you do not agree with the draft decision, you can give your opinion (views) within 6 weeks. Please indicate in your opinion why.
• You will automatically be notified whether you will receive the permit.

What do I need?

• Your DigiD if you are a private owner.
• Your eRecognition if you are a business owner.
• Situation drawings (scale 1:1,000).
• Floor plan of each floor with dimensions and zoning of space (scale 1:100).
• All façade views and relevant cross-sections (scale 1:100).
• Description of the existing and new situation.
• Detailed description of the monument.

How long does it take?

• Within 8 weeks, you will be notified whether you will receive the permit. The municipality can extend this period by 6 weeks.
• If you disagree with the municipality's decision, you can object within 6 weeks.

Major renovation

• Within 26 weeks, you will be notified whether you will receive the permit. The municipality can extend this period by 6 weeks.
• If you disagree with the municipality's decision, you can file an appeal with the court within 6 weeks. This is only possible if you have also submitted an opinion on the draft decision.

Additional information

Protected city and village sites

The protection of city and village views is regulated in the environmental plan and the Environment Act. Different rules for permit-free building apply to buildings within the protected town or villagescape. This applies to both monuments and non-monuments.

Permit archaeological monument

An archaeological monument is a site that is part of our cultural heritage because remains, objects or other historical traces have been preserved on or in the soil. You request the permit for an archaeological monument from the municipality.

The snap

With the Environment Act, building is separated into a technical and spatial part. This results in 2 activities:

• the technical construction activity and
• the environmental plan activity for a structure. 

We call this "the snap.

Technical construction activity

The technical building activity deals with the testing of an application against the rules for technical building quality from the Building Works Environment Decree (Bbl). For example, the structural safety of a structure. Because of the cut, more technical building activities are permit-free because spatial preconditions no longer play a role.

Environment plan activity for structure

The test of building a structure for the spatial construction, maintenance and use of a structure against the environmental plan is called an environmental plan activity for a structure. Examples are the building height and building percentage. But also rules on the appearance of a structure (welfare) and the allocation of functions in the environmental plan.