Building a sheltered housing unit

A home for informal care is a dwelling near another home, intended for someone who needs or provides informal care. Here are some important rules for a informal care home:

  • A maximum of 2 people may live in a family care home, one of whom receives or gives Health .
  • The informal care home may be there only as long as the Health is needed.
  • If Health is no longer needed, the home and any facilities must be removed.
  • The property may not be used for any other purpose.
  • Only the first floor may be used as living space; any attic is for storage only.

Types of informal care homes

  1. An outbuilding attached to the home, such as a garage, that is temporarily made suitable for living in.
  2. An addition to the house or part of the house with its own entrance, living room, bedroom, bathroom and kitchen.
  3. A temporary detached housing unit in the garden.

Do you need a permit for an assisted living facility?

It depends on the situation. Often a home for informal care can be placed without a permit. If it cannot, a permit is required. The application is then evaluated on a situation-by-situation basis.

No permit, but rules

Even without a permit, the construction of an informal care home must comply with the technical rules of the Built Environment Decree (Bbl).

Permit-free care home outside built-up areas

If you live outside the built-up area, you may place a sheltered housing unit in the rear yard without a permit. This must meet the following requirements:

  • The informal care home must be movable (in parts or as a whole).
  • The informal care home may only be located in the rear yard area (at least 1 meter behind the front facade) and not on agricultural land, for example.
  • The informal care home may be up to 100 m² in size.
  • If the informal care home is within 4 meters of the home, the informal care home may not exceed 5 meters in height, nor may it be higher than the home.
  • If the informal care home is more than 4 meters from the house, it must not be higher than 3 meters with a pitched roof.

Or the property must comply with the rules described under "Within the built-up area. These can be found in the environmental plan.

Permit-free sheltered housing within built-up areas 

Within built-up areas, a sheltered house may also often be placed in the rear yard without a permit. This depends on:

  • The informal care home must fit within the building regulations of the surrounding plan such as maximum building area height etc.
  • A family care home may only be placed on land with residential zoning.
  • An existing outbuilding or part of the home may be converted into a home for informal care.

Uncertain whether you need a permit?

If it is unclear whether you need a permit, please contact publiekscentrum@opsterland.nl. Please include:

  • address;
  • The location of the informal care home;
  • The dimensions of the informal care home.

Applying for a permit

Do you want to apply for a permit? You can do so through the Environment Counter: 

Learn more