Environmental Law – Rhineland Water Board

The Environment and Planning Act brings together and simplifies the laws and regulations of the living environment. This includes legislation and regulations related to building, the environment, water, spatial planning and nature. Water boards, provinces, and municipalities work with the national government to implement the environment and planning law.

Why a new law?

Many different laws and regulations have been made for the physical living environment, the place where we live, work and spend our time. For example for soil, water, roads, environment, nature and new construction. These laws and regulations are not only complex, but sometimes contradict each other. This makes it difficult to develop new plans. This is why dozens of laws and regulations in the field of living environment are grouped and simplified into the Environment and Planning Law.

Also look at Animation about environmental law.

What does this mean for you?

At first you may not notice the environmental law. But if you want to know if you need to apply for a permit, for example for your houseboat or because you want to build a dock for your boat, things will soon be different than before. Looking for bases in a new online counter, Digital System Environment Act (DSO). A number of questions show whether you need to apply for a permit, submit a notice, or do nothing (without permission). Any application or permit notice can then be submitted or submitted via the DSO.

The Environment and Planning Act also ensures that you can participate in discussions about Rijnland plans. And about initiatives in your area.

The Implementing Regulations of the Water Council supersede the Keur and the Implementing Rules

To be able to comply with the Environment and Planning Act as a water board, we’re replacing our Keur rules and enforcement with a single document: the water board ordinance. It contains all the rules about what you as a resident or business may or may not do near water, dams and pumping stations. The rules for alimony obligations are set out in the Alimony Act. Read more about these regulations.

The Environmental Law takes effect on January 1, 2024

Finally, there is clarity on when the Environmental Law will come into force. On Tuesday, March 14, 2024, the Senate voted on whether the Environment and Planning Act could go into effect on January 1, 2024. After the vote, it turned out that 41 of the 75 senators voted for it. This means that the Environment and Planning Law will officially come into force on January 1, 2024. Read the letter from the Senate here.