What can you build in the City of Brussels?

What you can build in the City of Brussels (Brussel) 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 City of Brussels, 34 PPAS apply, and there are 652 protected properties.

At a glance

Find out for free what you can build on your plot in the City of Brussels

How much can I build in the City of Brussels?

That depends on the plot: the area of the Regional Land Use Plan (PRAS) in which it lies, a special land use plan (PPAS) if one applies, the Regional Urban Planning Regulation (RRU) and the municipality’s regulations. For each address, the Perceelscan report states which area and which PPAS apply, with a link to their provisions; in Brussels, it does not yet calculate the m² of floor area.

Which special land use plans (PPAS) apply in the City of Brussels?

In the City of Brussels, 34 special land use plans apply, including the most recent ones: ‘PPAS n° 09-01 "Tour & Taxis"’ (2017), ‘N° 06-02 Quartier "Véronèse"’ (2015) and ‘PPAS n°06-03 "Saint Quentin"’ (2015). In addition, 2 PPAS are in preparation. A PPAS only applies within its own area: for each address, the Perceelscan tells you whether one covers the plot.

Do I need a planning permit in the City of Brussels?

For most works, yes: building, renovating, demolishing and changing the number of dwellings generally require a planning permit, and some activities also need an environmental permit; some minor works are exempt. You can see which permits already exist for an address on openpermits.brussels; the Perceelscan report lists the files for the plot.

Is my property listed as heritage in the City of Brussels?

The City of Brussels has 652 protected properties (listed or on the safeguarding list) and 5,315 properties in the legal inventory of architectural heritage. As a rule, a protected property cannot be demolished; the inventory is not a form of protection. For each address, the Perceelscan tells you whether the building is protected, lies in a protection zone or is in the inventory.

Is there a right of pre-emption in the City of Brussels?

Yes, in 6 perimeters: Bruxelles - Place Royale (until 20 November 2029), Bruxelles - Alhambra (until 26 February 2029), Bruxelles - Canal Nord (until 4 May 2029), Bruxelles - Héliport-Anvers (until 7 October 2029) and 2 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. For each address, the Perceelscan tells you whether the plot lies inside one.

Which municipal urban planning regulation applies in the City of Brussels?

For the City of Brussels, the urban.brussels register lists a municipal urban planning regulation. It applies alongside the Regional Urban Planning Regulation (RRU), which is in force throughout Brussels; a municipality may have other regulations too, so if in doubt, check with the municipality. The municipal regulations are listed by urban.brussels on urbanisme.irisnet.be.

Is the City of Brussels in a Natura 2000 area?

Part of the City of Brussels is: Bois de la Cambre. A project there may require an appropriate assessment, and within 60 m of those areas an assessment of its impact on nature; for each address, the Perceelscan tells you whether the plot lies inside or next to one.

The special land use plans (PPAS) of the City of Brussels

In addition, 40 PPAS in the City of Brussels have been repealed; the report mentions a repealed PPAS if it covered the plot.

What the Perceelscan checks for each plot in the City of Brussels

• The PRAS area with a link to its provisions, and the special land use plans (PPAS) and master development plans (PAD) with their status.
• Heritage: listing, the safeguarding list, protection zones, the legal inventory, UNESCO and the archaeological atlas.
• Flood hazard (2025 map), shallow groundwater and no-build zones along watercourses.
• The soil condition inventory and PFAS.
• Right of pre-emption, Natura 2000, nature reserves and Seveso sites nearby.
• Planning permits and environmental permits on the plot.

Find out for free what you can build on your plot in the City of Brussels

Building near the City of Brussels

• What can you build in Schaerbeek?
• What can you build in Saint-Josse-ten-Noode?
• What can you build in Evere?
• What can you build in Koekelberg?
• What can you build in Jette?
• What can you build in Molenbeek-Saint-Jean?
• All Brussels municipalities

Source: BruGIS (perspective.brussels and urban.brussels) and Brussels Environment, open data under CC BY 4.0, retrieved on 11 October 2026.

Updated on 11 October 2026