A buyer may see a new home, guest accommodation, workshop or space for animals in a farmhouse. These possibilities make the property interesting, but its current appearance does not establish what planning law permits. Start with the authorised main use of each building. Obtain permits and planning information, then take the specific proposal to the municipality.
The Flemish authorities say that changing a building’s main use requires an environmental permit in advance, even without building work. They expressly cite using a farmhouse in agricultural land as a dwelling without agricultural activity. Converting a shed into a home is not made lawful by an attractive interior or postal address alone.
Actual use, zoning and authorised function matter more than appearances. Before describing a building as a home or guest accommodation, obtain the planning information and existing permits from the municipality. Have the specific proposal assessed for each building.
A tourist room, office or workshop as a subordinate activity may sometimes be exempt from the permit requirement, subject to conditions. The exemption is not universal: location, size, existing use, regulations and municipal rules matter. Flemish guidance recommends checking the specific project with the municipality.
In agricultural zoning, advice from the Flemish Agriculture and Fisheries Agency may also form part of a permit procedure. Marketing can identify possibilities to investigate but must not imply approval that has not been granted.
For each building, record its actual layout, the permitted use supported by documents and the buyer’s proposed use that still requires checking. Attach the relevant records. The difference between present use and future plans matters to price, timing and financing.
Official sources: Flemish change-of-use guidance and Agriculture and Fisheries Agency.
General information as at 25 October 2026. A change of use requires building-specific and location-specific assessment. Seek confirmation from the municipality and relevant specialists.
