Urban planning law refers to all laws and regulations governing the use of space, in keeping with the objectives of land use as decided by local governments (municipalities and regions).

Lawyers with Lebutte & Partners can answer the various questions you may have and help you settle your situation in this increasingly complex subject. They will :

• Help you file an application for an urban planning permit, a subdivision permit or an operating permit.
• Advise and assist you throughout the inquiry procedure (consultation committee, meeting with the civil servant in charge of the dossier, etc.).
• File an internal appeal procedure with the Regional Government if a permit is refused.
• File a judicial appeal with the Council of State.
• Take action in an on-going procedure to safeguard your interests. (If a neighbour challenges a permit, they must file an action against the municipality that issued it, therefore it can be helpful for the permit holder to be a party to that suit.).
• Invoke the liability of a neighbour or any other person applying for an urban planning permit that could entail damages for you.
• Negotiate with the authorities to settle a difficult urban planning situation before getting involved in administrative or judicial proceedings.
• Defend you in case of penal proceedings for infringement of an urban planning rule (slum landlord, confiscation of real estate property by the prosecuting authorities, etc.).
• Etc.

Environmental law includes all laws and regulations to protect, manage and restore the environment in all forms: land, water and marine environments, natural, cultural environments and even non-terrestrial environments.

This is a rapidly growing, complex, technical branch of law (often requiring an assessment by an expert in the field), determined locally and globally (at national, European and international levels).

It comprises various sub-branches (non-exhaustive list) :

• Those related to elements that make up the environment: law on air, law on water, law on the sea, law on soils, law on biodiversity and biotopes.
• Those related to human activities: law on hunting, fishing and energy.
• Those related to harmful or polluting activities: law on noise, law on scheduled buildings, law on the industrial or natural risks.
• Those related to a specific object: law on chemical products, law on waste, law on historical monuments and sites.

The lawyers in the Lebutte & Partners legal firm can advise you – and take action – on environment-related issues in a broad variety of situations such as :

• Obtaining an environmental permit, which may entail an environmental impact study, a study on recycling of waste, a report on innovative processes, etc. depending on the size of the project.
• Settling conflicts with neighbours resulting from nuisance caused by any industrial establishment and thereby informing companies on ways to respect of the environment.
• Providing legal support to a group of neighbours opposed to the installation of an establishment requiring special permission.
• Filing an action for environmental cessation.
• Assisting a homeowner in a soil depollution procedure.
• Meeting with the Brussels Institute for Management of the Environment.
• Etc.