Bouwmogelijkheden Gent

Parcel data in Ghent: what you need to know

Ghent uses, like all Flemish municipalities, the Flemish cadastre (AAPD) and the GRB. The City of Ghent has its own Department of Urban Planning that processes permit applications. Ghent's environmental portal is available digitally via the Flemish Omgevingsloket.

1. Heritage buildings and protected townscape

Ghent has one of the highest concentrations of protected monuments and townscapes in Flanders. The main protected zones:

• ✓Historic city centre (Graslei, Korenlei, Patershol): nationally protected townscape. Any change to a façade, roof, or boundary requires a permit and is assessed by the Agency for Immovable Heritage
• ✓19th-century belt (Sint-Amandsberg, Dampoort): municipally protected. Roof extensions and façade changes require an environmental permit and positive advice from the urban planning officer
• ✓Portus Ganda and canal zone: recently redeveloped, modern building regulations apply with specific RUP provisions per sub-area

2. Flood risk and the Sigma Plan

Ghent lies at the confluence of the Leie and Scheldt rivers. The Flemish government's Sigma Plan imposes additional restrictions on plots in flood-prone areas along these rivers. For building applications in zones along the Scheldt (Muide, Dampoort, Gentbrugge), a water test is mandatory and construction restrictions apply.

3. Permit-free building in Ghent

The Flemish exemption rules apply in Ghent too:

• ✓Garden shed up to 15 m² and 2.5 metres high: exempt from environmental permit
• ✓Rear extensions up to 3.5 metres deep: exempt subject to all Flemish conditions being met
• ✓In protected townscape (historic centre, Patershol): no exemptions — everything requires a permit

Consult the Omgevingsloket Vlaanderen (omgevingsloket.be) and Ghent's urban planning regulations for your specific address.