What can you build in the Brussels-Capital Region?
What you can build in the Brussels Region depends on the area of the Regional Land Use Plan (PRAS) in which your plot lies, on a special land use plan (PPAS) if one applies, on the Regional Urban Planning Regulation (RRU) and on the municipality’s regulations. In the 19 municipalities, 234 PPAS apply and 15 are in preparation. The Perceelscan produces a report for every Brussels address, though not yet with the number of m² that may legally be built.
At a glance
| Municipalities | 19 |
|---|---|
| PPAS in force | 234 |
| PPAS in preparation | 15 |
| Municipal regulations in the register | 12, in 12 municipalities |
| Current pre-emption perimeters | 15 |
| Protected properties | 1,392 |
| Legal inventory | 24,939 properties |
Find out for free what you can build on your plot
What is the Regional Land Use Plan (PRAS)?
For the whole of Brussels, the PRAS sets the designated use of every area: residential areas, mixed areas, green areas and so on. The provisions for each area say which uses are allowed there and to what extent. An overlay adds rules, and a master development plan (PAD) can replace the PRAS locally. For each address, the Perceelscan tells you which area the plot lies in, with a link to the provision.
What is a PPAS in Brussels?
A special land use plan (PPAS) sets out the rules in more detail for a smaller area. In Brussels, 234 are in force, most of them in Uccle (39), City of Brussels (34), Evere (17) and Woluwe-Saint-Lambert (17). A PPAS may be repealed in whole or in part; for each address, the Perceelscan tells you whether one applies.
Which urban planning regulations apply in Brussels?
The Regional Urban Planning Regulation (RRU) applies throughout Brussels: among other things, it governs the siting and dimensions of buildings, the habitability of dwellings, accessibility and parking. The urban.brussels register also lists municipal regulations for 12 of the 19 municipalities: Anderlecht, Auderghem, City of Brussels, Etterbeek, Evere, Ixelles, Saint-Gilles, Saint-Josse-ten-Noode, Schaerbeek, Uccle, Watermael-Boitsfort and Woluwe-Saint-Lambert; a municipality may have others as well.
Where does a right of pre-emption apply in Brussels?
In 15 perimeters: Anderlecht - Saint-Gilles - Midi (until 28 October 2028), Anderlecht - Molenbeek-Saint-Jean - Parc de la Sennette (until 13 August 2030), Anderlecht - Bizet (until 11 October 2028), Bruxelles - Place Royale (until 20 November 2029), Bruxelles - Alhambra (until 26 February 2029), Bruxelles - Canal Nord (until 4 May 2029) and 9 more. Within such a perimeter, a public authority has the right to buy first when a property is sold; the decree in the Belgian Official Gazette states which authority.
How much protected heritage is there in Brussels?
There are 1,392 protected properties (listed or on the safeguarding list) and 24,939 properties in the legal inventory of architectural heritage; most of the protected properties are in City of Brussels, Uccle and Ixelles. For each address, the Perceelscan tells you whether the building is protected or in the inventory.
Do I need a permit in Brussels?
For most works, you need a planning permit, and for some activities an environmental permit. You can see which permits already exist for an address on openpermits.brussels; the Perceelscan report lists the files for the plot.
The 19 Brussels municipalities
| Municipality | PPAS, heritage and pre-emption |
|---|---|
| Anderlecht | 13 PPAS in force, 43 protected properties, 3 current pre-emption perimeters |
| Auderghem (Oudergem) | 10 PPAS in force, 28 protected properties |
| Berchem-Sainte-Agathe (Sint-Agatha-Berchem) | 7 PPAS in force, 16 protected properties |
| City of Brussels (Brussel) | 34 PPAS in force, 652 protected properties, 6 current pre-emption perimeters |
| Etterbeek | 10 PPAS in force, 22 protected properties |
| Evere | 17 PPAS in force, 14 protected properties, 1 current pre-emption perimeter |
| Forest (Vorst) | 4 PPAS in force, 44 protected properties |
| Ganshoren | 7 PPAS in force, 11 protected properties, 1 current pre-emption perimeter |
| Ixelles (Elsene) | 13 PPAS in force, 103 protected properties, 2 current pre-emption perimeters |
| Jette | 8 PPAS in force, 20 protected properties |
| Koekelberg | 6 PPAS in force, 6 protected properties, 1 current pre-emption perimeter |
| Molenbeek-Saint-Jean (Sint-Jans-Molenbeek) | 12 PPAS in force, 31 protected properties, 2 current pre-emption perimeters |
| Saint-Gilles (Sint-Gillis) | 4 PPAS in force, 64 protected properties, 1 current pre-emption perimeter |
| Saint-Josse-ten-Noode (Sint-Joost-ten-Node) | 7 PPAS in force, 33 protected properties |
| Schaerbeek (Schaarbeek) | 7 PPAS in force, 58 protected properties, 1 current pre-emption perimeter |
| Uccle (Ukkel) | 39 PPAS in force, 108 protected properties |
| Watermael-Boitsfort (Watermaal-Bosvoorde) | 7 PPAS in force, 53 protected properties |
| Woluwe-Saint-Lambert (Sint-Lambrechts-Woluwe) | 17 PPAS in force, 46 protected properties |
| Woluwe-Saint-Pierre (Sint-Pieters-Woluwe) | 12 PPAS in force, 40 protected properties |
Building in Flanders
- What can you build in the province of Antwerp?
- What can you build in the province of Limburg?
- What can you build in the province of East Flanders?
- What can you build in the province of Flemish Brabant?
- What can you build in the province of West Flanders?
Source: BruGIS (perspective.brussels and urban.brussels) and Brussels Environment, open data under CC BY 4.0, retrieved on 11 October 2026.
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