Building permit

Temporary Housing and Regulations in the Netherlands

Note: The information below applies specifically to the Dutch market and legal framework.

In the Netherlands, it is possible to develop temporary housing solutions. These projects can serve a wide range of target groups such as students, migrant workers, urgent housing seekers, or status holders (recognized refugees).

The legal framework is defined in the Environment and Planning Act (Omgevingswet, 2024) and the Building Decree for the Living Environment (Besluit bouwwerken leefomgeving, Bbl).

Duration of Permit

A temporary permit is generally granted for a maximum period of 10 years. In some municipalities, this can be extended to 15 years, provided that this is clearly set out in local policy or the zoning plan and supported by proper justification (e.g., large-scale flexible housing projects or for economic feasibility reasons).

In addition, many municipalities apply a so-called “dispersion policy.” This means that temporary housing must be distributed evenly across the municipality to avoid overconcentration and to safeguard livability. Often, maximum numbers of units per location are set, or a percentage limit based on the total number of homes in the municipality.

Permit Application Procedure

The realization of temporary housing requires an Omgevingsvergunning (environmental/building permit). The procedure generally consists of the following steps:

Pre-application consultation with the municipality
- Early discussions on location, target group, number of units, and available policy space.
Submission of the application
- Applications are submitted digitally via the Omgevingsloket (Dutch environmental portal).
- Required documents include building drawings, site plans, substantiation of the temporary nature, and—where applicable—reports (noise, soil, traffic, ecology).
Municipal review
- Assessment under the Bbl (technical requirements: fire safety, health, ventilation, daylight).
- Assessment against the zoning plan and municipal housing policies (e.g., dispersion policy).
Decision-making
- Standard procedure: 8 weeks processing time, extendable by 6 weeks.
- Extended procedure (needed if deviating from the zoning plan): approx. 26 weeks, including public consultation.
Publication and appeal
- The permit is published publicly.
- Interested parties (e.g., local residents) may submit objections or appeal.
Implementation and management
- Once granted, construction may begin.
- Municipalities often require a management plan, including agreements on supervision and the restoration of the site to its original state after expiration.

Who Can Apply for an Omgevingsvergunning?

An application can be submitted either by the owner of the property or by a third party such as a contractor, architect, or consultant.
If submitted by a third party, a written authorization from the owner may be required.

What is Needed for an Application?

Digital identification:
- Individuals use DigiD.
- Companies and organizations use eHerkenning.
Owner’s details (if different from the applicant).
Project documents, depending on the scope, such as:
- Site plans and construction drawings
- Structural calculations (if applicable)
- Zoning plan information
- Environmental or design reports, where required

Responsibility

Even if a third party handles the application, the owner remains ultimately responsible for compliance with the permit conditions.

Digital Submission

Applications are submitted online via the Omgevingsloket. Applicants can monitor the progress and upload additional documents if requested by the municipality.

Our Support in the Application Process

For the submission of an Omgevingsvergunning, we work with a dedicated architect who has an in-house engineering department. Together with our factory, all plans are carefully prepared and fully aligned with your wishes and the technical possibilities.

Your benefits:

Professional preparation of construction and technical drawings
Seamless coordination between design, engineering, and production
A complete and accurate permit application

We handle the entire process together with our partners, allowing you to focus on your project while we take care of the technical preparation and formal submission.