What does the Omgevingswet mean for you?

You will have to deal with the Omgevingswet Act if you want to change something in your living environment. For example, if you want to remodel your house, organize an event or if you are an entrepreneur and want to have a shed placed next to your business premises. 

You are then an initiator and must find out whether you need a permit or a notification. You can do that in the new Environment Counter. 

You may also have to deal with the Omgevingswet if someone else wants to change something in your living environment. For example, if your neighbors want to build a garage or if a nearby company wants to enlarge its office. You are then a stakeholder. 

In such cases, the Omgevingswet encourages the environment to be involved in the plans. We call this participation.
 

Until January 1, 2024

Did you obtain or submit a permit before the introduction of the Omgevingswet?

If the municipality, water board or province has already granted you a permit, it remains valid. You do not have to do anything. If the municipality, water board or province still has to process the application, then in principle this will be done according to the old law. You must ensure that all the necessary documents are submitted on time.

After January 1, 2024

Here are the most important changes for you:

  • The Omgevingsloket is the new counter where you can apply for a permit, file a notification or submit additional information online starting January 1, 2024.
  • Your municipality's zoning plans will be transformed into an environmental plan starting Jan. 1, 2024. An environmental plan not only contains information about the zoning of a place, i.e., what happens in that place. It also contains rules for noise, soil - and sometimes things like energy measures and sustainability.
  • The Omgevingswet ensures that the government makes quicker decisions on your permit applications. A short procedure is the starting point in the Omgevingswet. The decision period for a short procedure is normally a maximum of 8 weeks. With a possible extension of 6 weeks. After that, objections and appeals are still possible. If your permit application is complex, your application may fall under an extensive procedure. In that case, the decision period is longer.