Municipality of Zaanstad: applying for a planning permit

This is how you apply for planning permission:

1. Go to the Omgevingsloket online.
2. Do the vergunningcheck.
3. See whether you need a permit.
4. You can apply for the permit immediately online or in writing. Use the Omgevingsloket for both options. Log in: 
   * for yourself: with DigiD 
   * for a company: with eHerkenning

You pay legal costs for processing your permit application. Even if you do not get the permit. You will receive an assessment from the municipality for this. The costs for the handling of environmental permits can be found via the online Rate Table. In the regulation is regulated  the levying of fees: Chapter 2, paragraph 19 of the appendix deals with all costs for environmental permits.

For the most common types of construction, renovation or expansion plans around homes in Zaanstad that private individuals may be confronted with, a simplified overview has been made with the applicable administrative costs.

After a planning permit has been applied for, you will receive a first confirmation of receipt after a few days. The period of the permit procedure only starts after the municipality has received your formal permit application. You can find this date in the confirmation of receipt. Two weeks after the confirmation of receipt, you will receive a message about how much time your application will take. There are two possible procedures for handling your application:

Regular procedure

The regular procedure applies to the most common and simple applications, for example building a house that fits within the applicable planning rules. The time to make a decision is eight weeks, but can be extended once for another six weeks. If the municipality does not issue the permit on time, it will be granted automatically. If additional information is required or if the application is examined for a longer period of time, the term will be adjusted accordingly and the application may take longer. If so, you will be notified.

Comprehensive procedure

The extensive procedure applies to complex projects where the municipality has to deal with different interests and stakeholders. These parties must view documents in order to be able to respond to them. The extended procedure can take six months and may be extended once by six weeks. If additional information is required or if the application is deferred, the term will be adjusted accordingly and the application will take longer. If so, you will be notified.

The list of permit applications and decisions are published in the announcements (in Dutch).

Do you disagree with the decision? If so, you can lodge a complaint. The following applies:

• For a standard permit (8 weeks), you must lodge a complaint within 6 weeks of the decision being made and published. 
• For an extended permit (26 weeks), the initial decision is a pending decision. You can submit your response within 6 weeks. After that a final decision will be issued.

Good to know

You may start work only once you have received the permit. If you start earlier, you may be required to undo the work at your own expense.