Environmental permit and soil testing
When granting an environmental permit (building activity), the municipality assesses whether the environmental health quality of the soil is good enough to construct a structure.
The assessment of whether a soil investigation is necessary for a structure depends, among other things, on whether the structure is ground-level and involves an accommodation for persons. Existing soil surveys on the construction site and the soil quality map are also considered. As to whether or not a soil survey is necessary as part of the building application, you can obtain advice from the municipality prior to the application by calling 14 079 or using the contact form.
A soil survey may also be necessary when you apply for an environmental permit to start or change a business (environmental activity). If you perform a potentially soil threatening activity at your company, the Haaglanden Environment Service may require you to have a Baseline Soil Survey performed prior to the start of your company. This Baseline Soil Survey serves as a reference framework for assessing whether a company has caused soil contamination upon termination of its operations. To this end, a so-called Final Situation Soil Survey should be conducted upon termination of business activities.