No, in the Brussels Capital Region, from an administrative perspective, there is no time limitation. We handle some infractions dating back to 1898.

Complete demolition and restoration of the premises to their original state, along with a fine that varies based on the assessment criteria by the Administration and the duration of the infringement

It is necessary to submit an application for a building permit to the competent authority.

The permit application procedure varies from 75 to 160 calendar days, provided that the Administration deems the file complete.

The archived plans kept at the municipality correspond to the legal situation of your property. If developments requiring a permit are carried out without an urban planning permit being granted, it is highly likely that your property is in violation.

The purchaser acquires the irregularities and infractions of a property. Provided that the seller can prove they were not aware of these irregularities at the time of the sale, the responsibility falls on the buyer, who will have to take the necessary steps. In Belgium, it's the responsibility of the buyer to approach the Urban Planning Service to determine the legal situation of the property they intend to acquire.

The COBAT (Brussels Code of Urban Development) was indeed reformed in 2019 to facilitate the regularization of certain infractions. However, this process can only occur if the infraction meets a set of specific conditions. This process, called 'simplified,' aims to reduce procedural delays but is equivalent to a standard permit application. It might be simplified for the administration, but not for the architect.

The cost of a study varies depending on several criteria:

The nature of the violation, the size of the property, the availability of documents.

Because we specialize in regularization, which is a specific field both legally and professionally.

Regardless of your choice of partner, we advise working with a competent team to give yourself the best chance of success in your project.

Poorly defended cases initially are challenging to defend later.

A difference in the cost of a study might not necessarily be significant considering the entirety of a project and the enhancement of your real estate property.