Animal-Friendly Construction, Renovation, Insulation, and Demolition
Are you planning to build, renovate, insulate, or demolish a structure? If so, you need to be aware of protected animals that may be living in the cavity wall, under the roof, or elsewhere. You must take appropriate measures to address this. Read below to learn how.
If you’re doing home improvement projects—such as adding insulation or installing a dormer window—you don’t always need a permit. You can check this on the Omgevingsloket website. However, you’re always required to take protected animals into account. This means you must determine which animals are present and take measures to ensure you don’t kill them, disturb them, or destroy their nests. There are two ways to do this.
- You are using the species management plan. This is a major ecological study commissioned by the municipality of Moerdijk to cover the entire municipality. Based on this plan, you can obtain an exemption, and—if you meet the conditions—you generally won’t need to commission an (extensive) study yourself. This saves both time and money.
What you do still need to do is take measures to protect the animals that, according to the species management plan, are present at your location. The specific measures depend on which animals are present, but examples include installing nesting boxes. The costs for these measures vary, but are usually no more than €1,000. - You will commission an ecological study at your own expense. This often takes 1 to 2 years, since the study spans multiple seasons, and costs several thousand euros. The measures required and their costs depend on the animals that are found.
Route 1: Use the Species Management Plan
You can take advantage of the exemption based on the species management plan if the location where you plan to demolish, build, or renovate falls within the study area. You can check this on the Regelink map. Click “Search” in the upper-left corner and enter your address in the search box to see if it is located within the study area.
- Do you fall within the scope of the study? If so, please submit an application to take advantage of the exemption.
- Are you outside the scope of the study? If so, please see Option 2: Have an ecologist conduct the study.
- If you are within the study area, the municipality will inform you of the measures you need to take. You will also be told whether you need to enlist the help of an ecologist to implement the measures. Once you have taken the necessary measures, you can begin your construction or renovation project.
Option 2: Have the research conducted independently
You must have a study conducted by an ecologist if:
- If your property is located outside the municipality's study area.
- If you plan to build on a green space or vacant lot on your own property—even if your address is within the municipality’s survey area—we did not visit your property as part of the municipal survey; therefore, the survey cannot rule out the possibility that there are protected animals on that part of your property.
Quick Scan
The assessment that you must have an ecologist conduct at your own expense is called a “quick scan.” During this process, an ecologist determines whether protected animals are present—or could be present—at your site. In practice, the quick scan often reveals that further assessment is needed.
If you need to apply for an environmental permit for your construction or renovation project, you must include the quick scan (and any supplementary assessment, if applicable) with your application. The municipality will then assess whether the studies were conducted properly.
If you do not need to apply for an environmental permit for your project, the municipality assumes that you will have the quick scan and any necessary further investigation conducted on your own. If protected species are found during that investigation, you will need a permit for flora and fauna activities. You can apply for this permit via the Omgevingsloket website.
More information
Do you have any questions? Please email klimaat@moerdijk.nl.