Municipal Oversight and Monitoring

Everyone wants to live and work in a pleasant and safe environment. To that end, rules have been established in the form of laws and regulations. To ensure that everyone follows these rules, our inspectors conduct regular inspections—often by appointment, but sometimes unannounced as well.

What do regulators do?

Our inspectors are responsible for inspecting your home, business, and/or property. The purpose of such an inspection is to verify that you are complying with all regulations, such as the zoning plan and the Building Code (including fire safety regulations).

A regulator is at my door. How do I know if it's real?

Anyone can claim to work for the municipality. You’ll probably recognize the inspectors right away by their uniforms or badges featuring the Moerdijk municipality logo and the words “Inspection and Enforcement.” They also drive company vehicles bearing the same logos and text.

In addition, inspectors always present identification when they visit you for the first time. You can also always ask them to show their identification. They will always explain the purpose of the inspection. If you still have doubts after that, you can always contact the staff of the Permits, Supervision, and Enforcement team at the Municipality of Moerdijk via the general phone number 14 01 68.  

Am I required to cooperate with an inspection?

Of course, we would prefer that you cooperate voluntarily. Fortunately, this is the case in almost all instances. In extreme cases, regulators may require you to cooperate with the audit. They can do this by issuing a so-called “order to cooperate.” Fortunately, this is an exception. Naturally, they always try to obtain your cooperation through consultation first.

Can inspectors enter any premises, even without my permission?

In principle, inspectors may enter any location (lot, building, outbuilding, or property) without the owner’s or tenant’s permission. However, inspectors will always notify you first (whenever possible) and explain the purpose of the inspection. Residential properties are an exception. Before inspectors enter a residence, they will always first ask the occupant(s) for permission. Once you have granted that permission, it remains valid, and they may enter your residence for that specific inspection. If you do not grant that permission, they may still enter the residence without your consent, but only with an official authorization to enter issued by the mayor. Inspectors also use this option only as a last resort.

Are supervisors allowed to take photos without my permission?

Inspectors are indeed allowed to take photos without your consent. However, they never do so without a purpose. The photos document a situation. After all, pictures speak louder than words. The photos therefore serve as confirmation of the facts observed by the inspectors. The photos demonstrate whether or not a violation has occurred. These photos are included solely in the inspection report and are not used for any other purpose. Furthermore, these photos are never actively shown to third parties. Inspectors also never take photos of individuals or privacy-sensitive matters, unless the latter is necessary for the presentation of evidence,

Are you curious about what’s in the photos? You can always ask the inspectors to show you the photos they took during the inspection. If you’d prefer that a photo be deleted for a very compelling reason, you can always ask the inspectors to delete it. They will then determine whether this is appropriate based on the purpose of the inspection.