In Molenbeek-Saint-Jean, as everywhere in the Brussels Region, a garden shed is exempt from planning permission if it meets every condition of the Order of 13 November 2008, including a maximum floor area of 9 m² and a maximum height of 3 m. Above that, you apply for a permit at the Molenbeek-Saint-Jean planning department. The full conditions are set out in our guide to garden sheds in Brussels. This page covers what happens locally: where to submit your application in Molenbeek-Saint-Jean, who to contact and what the municipality can require on top.
The exemption conditions at a glance
Your garden shed in Molenbeek-Saint-Jean is exempt from planning permission if all of these conditions are met:
- 9 m² maximum floor area (footprint, roof overhangs included);
- a height of 3 m maximum;
- located in the courtyard and garden area, respecting the 45° plane from the party walls (1.5 m at the boundary line);
- detached from the main building and its annexes, and not used as living space;
- 50% permeable surface kept in the courtyard and garden area (RRU, Title I, art. 13).
The exemption no longer applies if the property is less than 20 m from a protected heritage site, or if the shed departs from the RRU, a municipal urban planning regulation or a PPAS. The details and special cases are in the guide to the Brussels rules. If in doubt, a call to the Molenbeek-Saint-Jean planning department avoids unpleasant surprises.
If a permit is required in Molenbeek-Saint-Jean
- Check the planning status of your plot (zoning, PPAS, local requirements) with the municipality.
- Prepare the application: application form, dimensioned site plan, elevations and photos. A shed with no structural issue does not require an architect.
- Submit the application to the Molenbeek-Saint-Jean planning department, in person or by registered post.
- The municipality decides within 75 days of acknowledging that the application is complete (160 days with a derogation). See the timeframes in detail.
The Molenbeek-Saint-Jean planning department
Contact details
Address:
Rue du Comte de Flandre 20, 1080 Molenbeek-Saint-Jean
Phone: 02 412 37 34
Email: urbanisme@molenbeek.brussels
Before you go
Contact the department by phone or email to confirm opening hours and how to submit (some municipalities only see people by appointment). Applications are handled in French or Dutch.
Every planning step in Molenbeek-Saint-Jean is on the Molenbeek-Saint-Jean municipality page.
Frequently asked questions: garden sheds in Molenbeek-Saint-Jean
- Do you need a planning permit for a garden shed in Molenbeek-Saint-Jean?
- No, as long as every regional exemption condition is met: no more than 9 m² (footprint, roof overhang included), no more than 3 m high, placed in the courtyard and garden area while respecting the 45° plane from the party walls, detached from the main building and not used as living space. If a single condition is not met, a planning permit is required in Molenbeek-Saint-Jean.
- How long does a garden shed permit take in Molenbeek-Saint-Jean?
- As everywhere in the Brussels Region, the municipality has 75 days from the acknowledgement that the application is complete, or 160 days if the project needs a derogation or special investigation measures.
- Where do I submit my permit application in Molenbeek-Saint-Jean?
- To the Molenbeek-Saint-Jean planning department (Rue du Comte de Flandre 20, 1080 Molenbeek-Saint-Jean), in person, by registered post or through the regional online portal. If you are unsure about your situation, contact the department on 02 412 37 34 or by email (urbanisme@molenbeek.brussels).
- Can a municipal regulation be stricter in Molenbeek-Saint-Jean?
- Yes: a municipal urban planning regulation (RCU) or a special land-use plan (PPAS) can impose additional rules. The regional exemption does not apply if the shed departs from them. A call to the Molenbeek-Saint-Jean planning department will tell you before you buy.
Garden sheds in neighbouring municipalities
The regional rules are the same, but the planning department and municipal regulations differ: Ixelles, Jette, Koekelberg, Saint-Gilles, Saint-Josse-ten-Noode, Schaerbeek.