Belgium: Construction & Planning

Belgium's new Book 7 of the Civil Code introduces fundamental changes to real estate and construction law, reshaping risk allocation, conformity standards, and contractual relationships. With implementation set for September 2027, property developers, contractors, and real estate professionals face critical decisions about updating their standard documentation and contractual frameworks.

Belgium is overhauling its offshore wind tender framework with price-based auctions, EU-aligned supply chain requirements, and mandatory carbon footprinting. Will these reforms accelerate development in the Princess Elisabeth Zone, or will legal challenges to critical grid infrastructure create new delays?

Belgian construction law is undergoing significant reform through Book 7 of the Civil Code, which aims to codify established principles and introduce a structured statutory framework for construction agreements. This article examines the key innovations proposed in the draft legislation, including the classification of construction agreements as service contracts, the formalization of the double acceptance mechanism, and new provisions governing conformity defects and limitation periods.

Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming increasingly popular in Belgium, mostly due to new company car policies, changing consumer behaviours, and tax incentives.

Do you need a building permit when you change the way a building is being used? A night shop becomes a restaurant, a one family dwelling is converted into students' rooms...

The costs of renovations are going through the roof for many reasons.