Do you need a building permit to renovate an apartment in the canton of Vaud?

This is one of the first questions owners ask before renovating in Lausanne, Morges or Nyon. The answer depends on the nature of the works, and each situation needs to be checked with the commune concerned.

The general principle

• Purely interior works that do not change the structure or facades (such as paint, floor and wall finishes or furniture) generally do not need a permit.
• As soon as you touch a window, a load-bearing wall or the use of a room, an authorisation may be required.
• In a co-owned building (PPE), the owners’ rules and the administrator must be consulted, even for works that need no authorisation from the commune.
• Depending on the case, the property management agency (régie) of the building should also be consulted.

How we handle it

At RK Interiors, we check this point from the concept phase. If an authorisation is needed, we prepare the file and handle the exchanges with the commune and, where relevant, with the régie. When the project affects the structure or facade, we work with an architect and an engineer, so the right specialist answers each technical question.

On La Côte, the complete renovation of the Cœur de la Côte villa in Mont-sur-Rolle and the transformation of the living space in the Baules villa in Begnin were carried out with the same care. In Lausanne, the La Barre kitchen went through a complete renovation.

Key takeaways

• Interior works with no impact on structure or facades generally do not need a permit.
• Windows, load-bearing walls and a change of use may require an authorisation: always confirm with your commune.
• In a PPE, consult the administrator and the owners’ rules before starting work.