Drawing set for a permit explained
For an environmental permit you do not simply submit a sketch. The municipality expects a complete drawing set showing what is currently there, what will be built and what the new structure will look like. If one element is missing, the 8-week decision period is paused until you have supplied the missing documents. This article explains, for each drawing type, what it is, why the municipality needs it and which scales are common. That way you know exactly what belongs in a complete application and why Tekenpunt delivers that complete set in one go.
A complete drawing set for an environmental permit consists of a site plan (scale 1:200 to 1:500), floor plans of the existing and new situation, facade elevations and cross-sections, all at 1:100 with dimensions. If any part is missing, the 8-week decision period is paused until you supply it. Structural work also requires a structural calculation. Tekenpunt delivers the full set from €595; over 90% passes the aesthetics review in one round.
Why a complete drawing set is so important
The municipality assesses an environmental permit on two points: does the plan fit within the environment plan (the rules on what and how large you may build) and does the structure meet the technical requirements of the Bbl? For these two assessments the municipality needs different drawings. The site plan and facade elevations are primarily relevant for the environment plan activity; floor plans, cross-sections and structural data are required for the technical building activity.
An incomplete application leads to a correction request. As soon as the municipality sends that, the statutory decision period pauses. Those 8 weeks only start running once you have submitted the missing documents. In practice that means weeks of delay at the moment you most want to start building. Submitting a complete and correct application in one go is therefore not a luxury, but simply the smarter approach.
Tekenpunt levert de complete tekeningenset voor een omgevingsvergunning from €595. Meer dan 90% van de aanvragen die we verzorgen gaat in één keer door de welstandstoets, zonder correctierondes.
Site plan: your plot and the location of the building
The site drawing is the bird's-eye view of your plot. You see the plot boundaries, the existing buildings on the plot and the location of the new building element relative to those boundaries and the public road. The drawing is based on the cadastral base map or the Large-scale Topography Base Registry (BGT), so that the plot boundaries match the official registers.
The municipality uses the site plan to check whether the structure meets the distance requirements that the environment plan sets in relation to the plot boundaries and the road. Is the structure too close to the plot boundary or to the building line? Then the plan conflicts with the environment plan and a deviation procedure is required.
Wat er op staat: perceelgrenzen met maatvoering, de bestaande bebouwing, de nieuwe bebouwing (gearceerd of grijs), de afstanden tot de perceelgrenzen, een noordpijl en een schaalbalkie.
Gangbare schaal: 1:500 of 1:1000 voor grotere of landelijke percelen; 1:200 tot 1:500 voor een gemiddeld woonperceel in een woonwijk. De schaal die gangbaar is, hangt af van de omvang van het perceel en de vereisten van de gemeente.
Floor plans existing and new: the layout per storey
A floor plan is a horizontal cross-section of a building storey, seen from above at approximately 1 metre height. You see the room layout, the position of walls (load-bearing and non-load-bearing), doors with swing direction, windows and fixed elements such as a staircase or kitchen.
Bij een verbouwing levert je altijd twee versies per betrokken bouwlaag: de bestaande situatie (hoe het nu is, inclusief wat gesloopt wordt) en de nieuwe situatie (hoe het er na de werkzaamheden uitziet). Die vergelijking laat de gemeente precies zien wat er wijzigt. Sommige tekenbureaus gebruiken kleurcodering: bestaand te handhaven in grijs, sloop in rood, nieuwbouw in geel of zwart. Dat maakt wijzigingen direct leesbaar.
Dimensions are mandatory: both the external dimensions of the building and the internal dimensions of the rooms. If dimensions are missing, the drawing is incomplete for the municipality.
Gangbare schaal: 1:100 voor vergunningtekeningen. Uitvoeringstekeningen met meer detail gaan naar 1:50.
Elevation views existing and new: for the aesthetic review
A facade elevation shows the exterior of the building in elevation, per facade side. You look straight at the front, rear, left, or right facade and see the height, width, window openings, roof form, roof pitches, and material indications.
Facade elevations are crucial for the municipality in the aesthetic review assessment. The aesthetics committee tests whether the design fits into the street scene and meets the municipality's aesthetic review criteria. Modern architecture in a historic environment, non-conforming materials, or an unusual roof shape are assessed through the facades.
Ook hier lever je bij een verbouwing altijd twee versies: bestaand en nieuw, voor elke gevel die wijzigt. Bij een aanbouw aan de achterkant zijn minimaal de achtergevel en een zijgevel relevant, plus de voorgevel als die de maatverhoudingen van het pand raakt.
Wat er op staat: hoogte van het bouwwerk (maaiveld tot nok), dakhoek, raamopeningen met maatvoeringen, materiaalaanduidingen (dakpannen, gevelbekleding, kozijnen).
Gangbare schaal: 1:100 voor vergunningtekeningen.
Sections: heights, composition and construction height
A cross-section cuts the building vertically along a line indicated on the floor plan. You see the internal composition: floor heights per storey, the structural build-up of the upper floor and the roof, insulation packages, and the relationship between storeys.
The section is essential for the municipality to check against the minimum clear height requirements from the Bbl. How high is the clear height in the living space? What is the height of the structure from ground level to ridge? Does the roof pitch match what is shown in the elevations? The section makes all of that verifiable.
Daarnaast laat de doorsnede de constructiehoogte zien: de opbouw van vloer, balken en isolatie. Dat is informatie die de aannemer en de constructeur later nodig hebben voor de uitvoering.
For a renovation you also provide an existing and a new version of the cross-section, so that the changes in height and build-up are immediately visible.
Gangbare schaal: 1:100 voor vergunningtekeningen.
Detail drawings: when do you need them?
Detail drawings zoom in on specific connections or structural points: the connection of a roof edge, a window frame connection, a lintel above a facade opening, or the transition from floor to exterior wall. They show how a structural or construction detail is actually put together.
For a standard permit application, detail drawings are not always mandatory. The municipality requests them when there is ambiguity about a specific building component, for more complex projects or for structural details that require further substantiation. The contractor will always need detail drawings later for execution.
Gangbare schalen: 1:20 tot 1:5 voor aansluitingsdetails; 1:1 voor kritieke profielen.
Tekenpunt advises at the time of commissioning whether detail drawings are necessary or desirable for your specific application.
When does a structural calculation and 3D visualisation come into play?
The drawing set above covers the core of the permit application. For some building plans additional documents are needed or useful.
Structural calculation Bij constructieve ingrepen vereist de gemeente (of de aannemer) een constructieberekening: een rekenkundig bewijs dat de draagconstructie veilig is. Je hebt er vrijwel zeker een nodig bij het weghalen van een dragende wand, het plaatsen van een dakkapel met een draagbalk, een aanbouw waarbij de fundering zwaarder belast wordt of het realiseren van een grote overspanning zonder tussensteunpunten. De constructieberekening is een apart specialisme van een gecertificeerd constructeur en geen onderdeel van de standaard tekeningenset. Tekenpunt werkt samen met een KIWA-gecertificeerde constructeur en regelt dit als add-on bij jouw project.
3D visualisation Een 3D-visualisatie is geen verplicht onderdeel van de vergunningaanvraag, maar kan bij de welstandsbeoordeling helpen als aanvulling op de verplichte 2D-tekeningen. De welstandscommissie beoordeelt of het ontwerp past in het straatbeeld; een ruimtelijk beeld maakt dat soms duidelijker dan een plat gevelaanzicht. Een 3D-visualisatie vervangt nooit de verplichte plattegronden, gevels en doorsneden: je kunt er geen maten uit aflezen en de gemeente accepteert het niet als vervanging.
Kort samengevat:
- Situatietekening + plattegronden + gevels + doorsneden = de verplichte set voor een volledige aanvraag
- Constructieberekening = verplicht bij constructieve ingrepen (add-on bij Tekenpunt)
- Detailtekeningen = doorgaans voor de uitvoering, soms gevraagd door gemeente
- 3D-visualisatie = optionele aanvulling bij welstandsbeoordeling
Example: the drawing set for a dormer
Hoe ziet zo'n set er in de praktijk uit? Voor een vergunningsplichtige dakkapel bestaat het aanvraagpakket doorgaans uit:
- situatietekening met het perceel en de positie van de dakkapel;
- plattegrond van de zolderverdieping, bestaand en nieuw;
- gevelaanzichten bestaand en nieuw van de gevels waar de dakkapel zichtbaar is;
- doorsnede over de dakkapel met hoogtes en dakhelling;
- detailtekening van de aansluiting op het dakvlak;
- constructieberekening zodra er in de kapconstructie wordt ingegrepen.
Voor een aanbouw of dakopbouw is de opzet hetzelfde, alleen groeit het aantal tekeningen mee met de omvang van de ingreep. Zo kun je per bouwplan aflezen welke onderdelen uit dit artikel voor jou gelden.
Scale and dimensions: why that matters for the permit
All drawings in the drawing set must be to scale and the scale must be explicitly stated on the drawing, including a scale bar. A drawing that is produced at the correct scale but does not state that scale is already a reason for a correction request from the municipality.
In addition, the scales must be mutually consistent. Submitting a floor plan at 1:100 together with a facade at 1:200 gives contradictory dimensional impressions and leads to questions. Consistency across the entire set is a basic requirement.
Gangbare schalen per tekensoort (indicatief):
- Situatietekening: 1:500 of 1:1000 (groter perceel of landelijk gebied), 1:200 tot 1:500 (gemiddeld woonperceel)
- Plattegronden vergunning: 1:100
- Gevels vergunning: 1:100
- Doorsneden vergunning: 1:100
- Detailtekeningen: 1:20 tot 1:5 of 1:1
The scales above are common practice for permit applications in the Netherlands. Municipalities may set additional or different requirements, depending on the type of project or the complexity of the structure.
Tekenpunt delivers all drawings as PDF in the correct paper format (generally A1 or A0) with a scale bar, so the scale remains verifiable even if the municipality prints the PDF on a smaller format. For the contractor and structural engineer we also provide DWG files.
Frequently asked questions
Q01Which drawings do I need for an environmental permit?
For most private renovations, the minimum set is: a site plan of the plot, floor plans per relevant building level (existing and new), facade elevations of the relevant facades (existing and new), and at least one section. All drawings must be to scale and include dimensions. The Environment Portal automatically provides a checklist based on your specific situation when you apply.
Q02Why do I need to provide both an existing and a new situation?
The municipality wants to see exactly what changes. The existing situation shows how the building currently looks; the new situation shows the result after the renovation. Only with both versions side by side can the municipality assess what changes and whether that change fits within the environment plan and the aesthetic review requirements. This applies to floor plans, facades, and cross-sections.
Q03What scale must the drawings be?
The common scales are: 1:100 for floor plans, elevations, and sections; 1:200 to 1:500 for the site plan. The scale must be stated on every drawing, including a scale bar. Which scale is exactly required depends on the municipality and the type of application; the scales above are common practice, not a fixed statutory requirement for every situation.
Q04How long does it take to produce a complete drawing set?
At Tekenpunt, you normally receive the complete drawing set for an environmental permit within 0-3 weeks. In a hurry? If you are in a hurry, expedited delivery is available: +30% for delivery in 2 weeks (minimum €295) or +50% for delivery in 1 week (minimum €495), on top of the regular drawing work. Discuss the desired delivery date when placing the order.
Q05Do I also need a structural calculation?
This depends on the nature of the intervention. When removing a load-bearing wall, adding a dormer window with a supporting beam, building an extension that places a heavier load on the foundation or creating a large span, a structural calculation is almost always required. The municipality can make this mandatory as part of the permit application. Tekenpunt works together with a KIWA-certified structural engineer; a structural calculation can be ordered as an add-on.
Q06What does a complete drawing set for an environmental permit cost at Tekenpunt?
The construction drawing for an environmental permit starts from €595. If you want a structural calculation, a 3D visualisation, or other additions, these are available as add-ons. Request a quote via the website for a tailored price for your project.
Q07What is the difference between permit drawings and execution drawings?
Permit drawings are intended for the municipality: to scale at 1:100, with dimensions and material indications, but general enough for the permit assessment. Execution drawings are intended for the contractor: they contain exact frame dimensions, structural connections, material specifications and construction details. A contractor who only receives the permit drawing is missing information and will make their own assumptions. When commissioning the work, discuss whether you also need execution drawings.
Q08Can I produce the drawing set myself?
There is no law that requires a drawing office to produce the drawings. In practice, self-made drawings are regularly returned with requests for corrections because they do not meet the submission requirements: incorrect scale, missing dimensions, or an incomplete existing-vs-new comparison. Every correction round pauses the decision deadline. Tekenpunt delivers a complete set with which more than 90% of applications pass the aesthetic review first time.
Ready for your renovation?
We handle design, structural engineering and permits from A to Z, across the Netherlands. Since 2016, 800+ projects. A no-obligation quote within 1 working day.