Construction of a house or a building, expansion work, facelifting, garden shed, etc. In principle, it will be possible to apply electronically from January 1, 2022. This process is intended to simplify the administrative procedures for individuals and property developers.
Building permit online will be released on January 1 | Photo credits: Istock
Until now, the filing of a building permit has often resembled an obstacle course. You had to send your paper file in multiple copies by post by registered mail with acknowledgment of receipt or go to the opening hours of the counter at the town hall. From January 1, 2022, it will now be possible to submit your application online in a “Simplified and free process”. This measure concerns individuals, but also real estate professionals, for any planning authorization request (prior declaration to build, planning or demolition permit, etc.) for the performance of works (construction / extension, refurbishment , fence, garden sheds, windows, solar panels,…).
1.5 million requests per year
As recently indicated by our colleagues from Echoes, each applicant must continue to contact the town hall for the procedure to follow: sending a simple e-mail (in small municipalities), filling out an online form, or registering on a dedicated platform. Each dedicated municipal platform will be attached to a common “hub” deployed by the State, called Plat’AU. Nearly 1.5 million requests for planning permission are filed each year and up to 40 departments can be consulted to examine the same file.
This innovation is part of the “Public Action 2022” approach, which aims to improve the quality of public services and modernize public action. For the Ministry of Ecological Transition “This more economical and ecological approach” should allow savings on the reprography of documents in multiple copies or the postage of registered mail. It must also provide more transparency on the progress of its file, at each stage of the investigation. Dematerialization of the request will not be compulsory. For those allergic to electronic formalities, it will still be possible to continue to use the paper version.