Obtain a Single Permit for Your Activity

An authorization combining environment and urban planning in a single procedure

Obtain a Single Permit for Your Activity

We are J. Jordens, and the single permit is a process we too often see discovered late by our clients, even though it can condition the very opening of their premises. Here is what you absolutely need to know before committing to a commercial lease or operating premises in Brussels.

What is the single permit

In the Brussels-Capital Region, the single permit combines, in a single procedure and a single decision, the planning permit and the environmental permit when your project requires both. This administrative merger simplifies, on paper, processes previously handled separately, but it remains a technical procedure that requires rigorous preparation.

Which activities are concerned

• Classified activities according to their potential environmental impact (noise, discharges, storage of products, etc.).
• Works or changes of use of premises requiring a planning permit.
• Establishments open to the public above certain attendance or floor area thresholds.
• Commercial or craft activities generating potential nuisance to the neighbourhood.

The environmental permit classes

Brussels regulations distinguish several installation classes according to their potential impact, from the lightest class (simple declaration) to the most stringent (detailed authorization with impact study). Determining the exact class applicable to your activity is a decisive step, as it conditions the entire procedure and the timelines that follow.

The application file

A single permit file generally includes a precise description of the project, architectural plans if works are planned, an assessment of potential environmental impacts, and sometimes a public inquiry depending on the scale of the project. The quality of preparation of this file directly influences the processing time, which can vary from a few weeks to several months depending on the project's complexity.

Why anticipate before signing a commercial lease

We systematically recommend checking the feasibility of the single permit before committing to premises, particularly for catering, craft or commercial activities generating noise or nuisance. Signing a lease without this prior check can lead to discovering, once financially committed, that your project is not feasible at that specific address.

The relationship with setting up your company

The single permit is a process separate from setting up your company, but the two are often carried out in parallel. Your company can be incorporated before obtaining the permit, provided you do not physically start the activity concerned before the authorization is issued, under penalty of unauthorized operation.

Our support for this technical aspect

Since 1948, our firm has directed its clients to the right contacts for this type of technical process, in coordination with the formation or structuring of their company. We help you identify whether your activity is concerned and plan a realistic timeline between company formation and obtaining the permit.

The role of the public inquiry

For certain projects of significant scale, the single permit procedure includes a public inquiry, allowing neighbours and interested parties to submit their observations. This step can extend the timelines but remains unavoidable for projects affected by this regulatory threshold.

We help you anticipate this possibility in your overall timeline, so your opening project is not delayed by a lack of awareness of this step, sometimes mandatory depending on the nature of your activity.

Does your activity in Brussels require a single permit? Contact us to assess your situation together and the timeline suited to your project. We remain available for an initial conversation, including before signing your lease, to assess the actual feasibility of your project at the planned address. This point deserves to be examined as soon as possible, as a regulatory constraint identified too late can jeopardize the entire timeline of your opening project.