What permissions do you need for works in a PPE (condominium) apartment?

Renovating a PPE apartment means separating what belongs to your private unit from what belongs to all the co-owners. Rules differ from one building to the next, so before any drawing starts, it is worth rereading the owners’ rules (the règlement de PPE) and contacting the building administrator.

Private parts and common parts

Purely interior works, such as a new kitchen or bathroom, flooring or finishes, generally concern your private parts. As soon as the project touches shared elements, the agreement of the administrator or the co-owners may be needed. Depending on the rules, this often covers:

• load-bearing walls and the structure of the building;
• windows, facades and the exterior appearance;
• shared installations, such as water pipes or ventilation.

When the commune or canton is involved

Interior works that do not change the structure or the facades generally do not need a permit. Touching a window, a load-bearing wall or the use of a room, however, may require an authorisation. Always confirm with the commune in the canton of Vaud, or with the cantonal authority in Geneva.

How we handle it

We check these points from the concept phase, then prepare the enquiry file and handle exchanges with the commune or the régie when needed. You can see apartments we have reworked, such as Grancy in Lausanne or Tranchées in Geneva.

Key takeaways

• The owners’ rules and the administrator set the framework for works in the building.
• Structure, facades, windows and room use may require an authorisation from the commune or canton.
• We check these aspects at the concept stage and prepare the file when needed.