To live in it permanently you need a permit in all three regions: an omgevingsvergunning in Flanders, a permis d’urbanisme in Wallonia. Brussels has no framework for it and a permit is very hard to obtain.[1]
Coming soon
Contentar is coming to Belgium
Contentar shows what a shipping container home really costs before you commit: a cost calculator with VAT, floor plans checked against the building rules, the permit process and a step-by-step guide.
It is live for Portugal and Spain. We are now preparing the version for Belgium: rules, costs and suppliers.
Notify me when it opensWhat we already know about Belgium
In Flanders, 18 m² per independent home. In Brussels, 18 m² for one person plus 10 m² for each additional person.[1]
In Flanders and Wallonia, a new detached home under 50 m² is exempt from the EPB energy requirements. In Brussels, every new home must meet them.[1]
Rate for a new build on an empty plot. The 6% rate applies, under conditions, only to demolition and rebuilding and to renovating homes over 10 years old.[2][3]
A summary of our research, October 2026. Rules change and can vary by region or municipality: check with your local authority before you buy or build.
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Already live
See how it works today, with the rules and costs of Portugal and Spain: