What can you build without a permit in Wallonia?
In Wallonia the works that need no planning permit are listed in the table of art. R.IV.1-1 of the CoDT. One veranda is allowed against the back of the home, up to 40 m² and without an upper floor, and one detached outbuilding up to 40 m²; a garden shed up to 20 m². These exemptions fall away in a high flood hazard zone, in the protection zone of listed heritage and for a property with a pastille.
The exemptions for a home
Exempt means: no planning permit. Below are the exemptions of the CoDT table (art. R.IV.1-1, as it applies on 25 October 2026) that concern a dwelling and its garden, each with the letter and number of the table.
| Works | What is allowed without a permit |
|---|---|
| Interior alterations | Altering the interior needs no permit as long as the load-bearing structure is not touched, the built volume and the architectural appearance stay the same and no dwelling is created (art. D.IV.4, 5° and 6°). Replacing the load-bearing structure of a roof without changing the volume is allowed (B1), and converting an existing building without extension into rooms not used for living (B2). |
| Insulating or renewing façades and roof | Fitting or replacing façade cladding or roof coverings to meet the energy standards, with the same outward appearance and at most 30 cm thicker; under a regional guide, with the colours and materials of the guide (A1). A green roof, or a green façade not visible from the road (A2). Shutters (A4), and a grille or balustrade not visible from the public domain (A5). |
| Windows, doors and openings | Replacing doors and windows with energy-efficient ones (A7). Openings in the roof slope on at most one level and together at most a quarter of the length of the elevation, in the roof materials (A8). Openings in an elevation together at most a quarter of its length, on one level, in the same materials, not in an elevation on the building line or facing the road, and in line with the guide if there is one (A9). |
| Chimney, gutters and flues | Fitting, replacing or removing a chimney, gutters, downpipes or the flue of a cooker hood or boiler; under a regional guide, in line with the guide (A11, A13). |
| Conservatory | One per property (and at most one secondary volume), against the back of the building, at least 2 m from the boundary, at most 40 m² and single storey, at most 3 m at the eaves, 5 m to the ridge and 3.20 m to the parapet, below the gutter of the main building, a light structure mostly of glass or polycarbonate, in line with the regional zoning plan and not in a high flood hazard zone (C1). Demolishing it is also exempt (C3). |
| Small extension | One secondary volume per property (and at most one conservatory), not for living in: at most 40 m², without upper floor or basement, in materials of a similar shade, at least 2 m from the boundary, in line with the regional zoning plan and not in a high flood hazard zone (B4). Removing a secondary volume, an outdoor staircase or an air conditioner is also exempt (B8). |
| Garage, workshop or pool house | One detached annex per property, not for living in: at most 40 m² and single storey, behind the building (a garage facing the road, not beyond the rear elevation), at least 2 m from the boundary, at most 2.50 m at the eaves, 3.50 m to the ridge and 3.20 m to the parapet, in wood or a shade similar to the main building, in line with the regional zoning plan and not in a high flood hazard zone (E1). Demolishing it is also exempt (E6). |
| Carport, bicycle shelter and parking space | One covered parking space per property facing the road, not beyond the rear elevation, at most 40 m², 2.50 m at the eaves and 3.50 m to the ridge (F1); a covered bicycle shelter up to 60 m² (F2); open-air parking spaces next to the building, in permeable materials, together at most 300 m² and without significant change of ground level (F5). Each time not in a high flood hazard zone; demolishing is also exempt (F4). |
| Garden shed or storeroom | One per property, in the courtyard or garden, not visible from the road or behind the building, at least 1 m from the boundaries, at most 20 m², 2.50 m to the gutter, 3.50 m to the ridge and 3.20 m to the parapet, in wood or a matching shade, not in a high flood hazard zone (G1). Demolishing it is also exempt (G3). |
| Swimming pool | An above-ground or self-supporting pool in the courtyard or garden, not visible from the road, at least 1 m from the boundaries (H1). One sunken pool per property, private, uncovered or under a light telescopic cover below 3.50 m, at most 75 m², at least 3 m from the boundaries, not visible from the road, without significant change of ground level and not in a high flood hazard zone (H2). Removing or filling it in is also exempt (H4). |
| Pond | One pond per property in the courtyard or garden, at most 100 m², at least 3 m from the boundaries, without significant change of ground level and not in a high flood hazard zone (I1). Filling it in is also exempt (I4). |
| Terrace, paths and garden fittings | An awning, sunshade or terrace cover at ground level, at most 3.50 m high, together at most 40 m² and at least 2 m from the boundaries (J1). Garden furniture, a barbecue, compost bin, pergola, children’s play equipment and lighting that does not shine over the boundaries (J2). A play or sports area in permeable materials (J3). Paths in permeable materials and terraces at ground level next to the building, without significant change of ground level (J4). A garden greenhouse up to 20 m² (J5). Each time in the courtyard or garden; J4 and J5 not in a high flood hazard zone. |
| Fences, gates and retaining walls | On the boundary: a fence up to 2 m of wire or mesh (with at the base at most 1 m of board or low wall), of posts with one or two rails, a wooden fence or gabions up to 1 m, and a gate up to 2 m with a wide view of the property (M1); a fence up to 2 m not visible from the road or behind a building (M2); not in a high flood hazard zone. A retaining wall lower than 0.70 m (M4). Within the property the same dimensions apply, and walls up to 1 m, or 2 m if they are not visible (J6, J7). |
| Solar panels and home battery | On or in an existing building, on the roof or the façade, with a battery on the same property: on a pitched roof at most 30 cm proud and at most 15° off the roof pitch; on a flat roof up to 1.50 m high and at most 35° tilt; on a façade 1.20 to 1.50 m projection and 25 to 45° tilt (L1). Replacing them is also exempt (L3). |
| Heat pump | On the ground, on a flat roof or on the façade, including a geothermal one up to 500 m deep, 3 m from the boundaries, not visible from the road and not in a high flood hazard zone (L5). Removing it is also exempt (L8). |
| Connections, tanks and wastewater treatment | Connections to the networks, a rainwater tank, a buried fuel tank, drains, a septic tank or an individual wastewater treatment system, on the property and without significant change of ground level (X1); drilling a well (X5); each time not in a high flood hazard zone. Removing them is also exempt (X9). |
| Beehives and animal shelters | Beehives (N1). Animal shelters in the courtyard or garden, together at most 20 m² (25 m² with a dovecote), at least 3 m from the boundaries and 20 m from any neighbouring dwelling, not directly behind a neighbour’s rear façade, single storey and at most 3.50 m to the ridge, not in a high flood hazard zone (N2). Demolishing them is also exempt (N5). |
| Trees and hedges | Felling a tree only requires a permit in a green area of the regional zoning plan or of an SOL, for a hedge or an avenue, and for a remarkable tree, shrub or hedge (art. D.IV.4, 11° and 12°). Removing a hedge over less than 2.50 m to create a single access to an existing dwelling is exempt (S4). |
| During the works | Temporary structures for authorised works, such as a site hut or sanitary facilities, as long as the site continues (P1), and a borehole for a geotechnical or soil study (T1); not in a high flood hazard zone. |
What is not in the list of art. D.IV.4 needs no permit. A work from the table that does not meet the conditions needs a permit, often a limited impact permit and without an architect. The energy performance rules for buildings still apply (R.IV.1-1).
What you may build also depends on other rules, such as the plan de secteur and the CoDT and the certificat d’urbanisme. For one address, the free Perceelscan preview brings it together.
What removes an exemption
- A protection zone around heritage or a property with a pastille: work on the exterior, extending, demolishing, a veranda or an outbuilding is not exempt there (art. R.IV.1-1, para. 2).
- A listed property: the exemptions apply, but any work first needs an autorisation patrimoniale (art. D.IV.1, § 2).
- A high flood hazard zone: the veranda, the extension, outbuildings, the garden shed, the swimming pool, fences and most garden works need a permit there.
- The plan de secteur: a veranda, extension or outbuilding must comply with it (C1, B4 and E1).
- A guide régional: colours, materials and new openings in the façade follow the guide (A1, A9 and A11).
An exemption applies even if the work departs from a scheme, a local scheme (SOL), a subdivision permit (permis d’urbanisation) or the indications of a guide, and even from the regional zoning plan, unless the condition of the item itself requires it (such as C1, E1 and B4 for the zoning plan, and A1, A9 and A11 for the guides): that is how the SPW’s administrative instructions read the table.
What always needs a permit
Not on the list, so with a planning permit: an extra dwelling (art. D.IV.4, 6°), an extension with an upper floor or larger than 40 m², a second conservatory or annex, an above-ground tank (X3), a sign or advertising (Q1) and a light dwelling in the garden.
Works that fall just outside the conditions are often works of limited impact (impact limité): a permit with a lighter procedure, sometimes without an architect (art. D.IV.1, § 2).
The municipality can, in its planning guide, require a permit for works that are not in the list of art. D.IV.4, if they are not exempt (art. D.IV.4, last paragraph).
What the Perceelscan shows
Section 09 of the report applies this table to one address. It says for each exemption whether it applies on this plot or falls away, given the heritage, the zone of the plan de secteur, the flood hazard and the guides that apply there. The municipality’s planning department confirms it.
Is a veranda allowed without a permit in Wallonia?
Yes, one per property: against the back of the building, up to 40 m², without an upper floor, at least 2 m from the boundary, with a light structure mainly of glass and in line with the plan de secteur. Not in a high flood hazard zone or a protection zone.
How large may a garden shed be without a permit in Wallonia?
Up to 20 m², one per property, in the yard or garden, at least 1 m from the boundary, at most 2.50 m at the gutter and 3.50 m at the ridge, in wood or a matching colour. Not in a high flood hazard zone.
In the other regions
- In Flanders: What can you build without a permit in Flanders?
- In Brussels: Which works need no permit in Brussels?
Sources
Updated on