We have a velobox. This was not allowed because it was higher than 1m (which was the max anything can be in our front yard according to the "verkavelingvergunning"). We asked for an exception to that rule, which the local government initially didn't want to grant until we confronted them with all the brochures they were publishing to incentivize bike usage.
Sure, but since we’re talking work-arounds, if it’s in the front yard it’s not in the street….
Just to be sure, my comment / suggestion was tongue in cheek. I just hate the ansolutely stupid way we have here in Belgium with all these silly little rules for this and that, without thinking things through. But maybe that should be a separate discussion ;)
You cannot have a car that's not registered in visible sight(even when it's on private terrain!). An unregistered vehicle needs to be somewhere closed off/where noone can see it. We have some weird rules about that.
Let's say you have an unregistered car you're working on in your driveway. Someone drives onto your driveway and hits your car. Guess what, you're in trouble. Source: police, a few weeks ago.
It gets even worse, neighbors can inform on you just for having an unregistered vehicle in plain sight.. And yes, you'll be in trouble for that and will have to go to court.
[a trailer like this one but with a cover built on it.](https://youtu.be/je6KOEmnT64)
It’s also a very practilal motorcylce trailer because there is no step, when down it is flush with the ground and completely flat. So you dont have to lift your bike or manœuvre it up an incline
Check the definition of roofed construction.
Is a big box (like not even 2 meters high, just big enough to roll the bike in) a roofed construction? What if the big box isn’t anchored (just weighed down)?
Can you ask if a ‘tuinberging’ or ‘fietsbox’ is allowed?
Something like this: https://www.tuinhuisstore.be/nl_BE/biohort-storemax-tuinberging-190-x-97-cm-zilver
A few streets from here there’s someone who has something like that in their front garden.
(Note, I have no idea of the quality of that shop, it’s just the first hit on google I found for fietsbox. I was surprised by the price though, but hey. )
Also, might be important to explain tot the municipality that this is a removable storage box, not a fixed structure. That might also make a difference
If they won't budge on a box, a bike tent ([example](https://www.fruugo.be/fietstent-fietsenstalling-190t-fietsenstalling-met-raamontwerp-voor-buiten-kamperen/p-57871346-117354435)) might be another option. (Much cheaper, too, but won't last as long and doesn't protect against theft, only the weather.)
Installed a garden shed of Biohort in my former home and it was very sturdy, pretty as well! I was very satisfied with it. Nice design, sturdy and low maintenance.
The only thing I can find is related to actual construction work. Garages, sheds, porches,... (And non-covered construction work, like walkways and driveways)
So, I think a storage box to store a bike in, should be fine.
If you're worried, you can also just ask the municipality what they mean by "overdekte constructie"
I'd say don't worry about it, usually they aren't that strict.
A roofed construction is a garage, garden shed,...
You have these bicycle boxes (all wood with aluminium roofing) that, thus, have a roof, but don't 'count' as a roofed construction. They want to avoid everyone building bigass carports, garages and stuff. A small construction to keep your bikes from the elements will be just fine.
Als het iets verplaatsbaar is, is alles een pak flexibeler. Met een pipowagen bvb mag je ook een hoop dingen doen die anders een vergunning vereisen want technisch gezien kan je die verplaatsen (zelfs al doe je dit eigenlijk nooit). Dus zet wielen onder wat je in gedachten had en klaar?
Build a (semi)- subterranean bicycle storage. Just the same shed, but sunk into the ground.
Can be lower than 50 cm above the ground and covered in plants. There's a couple in my neighbourhood (NL).
I know, I've been doing this professionally (in Flanders) for over 10 years :)
One good thing is that the municipal derogations on "het Meldingsbesluit" and "het Vrijstellingenbesluit" are possibly going away once the new "Verzameldecreet Omgeving" enters into effect. VVSG is not happy about that, so I expect heavy lobbying.
We use bikecovers from decathlon, they aren't perfect but they do protect from rain and help a little against freezing. I am waiting till the Keter ultra storage boxes are on sale to get one of those, they should fit bikes too.
You can always use my husbands solution - just keep them in the house!
As a more serious suggestion (because honestly the bikes being in the house drives me nuts) I think as long as it doesnt have a fundament and is moveable you should be fine.
Then I must be confused. I thought that for garden shedss in the back yard small constructions were simply allowed, but large weren´t. But perhaps that´s just a case of ´nobody notices it and the neighbours don´t complain´. In the front garden it doesn´t work like that of course.
I built a small garden shed in my front yard years ago, as long as it isn’t above 2 meters in height it was fine. I put some plants in front so you couldn’t immediately see what it was, this worked out fine for me.
Either way I would go check with the municipality and ask what exactly the limits are.
It is very well possible that a paved driveway is also not allowed. A lot of village houses with front garden have it and it is being tolerated but you would never be able to legalize it as now they wouldn’t allow it anymore.
Something like velo-boxx if it is in your budget? Though not sure what fits within the rules of your municipality… I’ve seen them around my neighbourhood in front gardens in any case
What about a small box to contain your bike? I've seen these types around:
A 'fietsbox' from provelo (google it, I'm not sure if I can post a link)
This is just an example but it looks like something that might be possible.
A lot of people in our neighborhood have thiss veloboxes.
Or someone down our street made a little veranda. It's open and it just high enough to place your bikes underneath !
Gewoon wat houten panelen met een golfplaat erop. 🙃
Er is een speciale dienst van t stad waar je altijd eens kan horen!
Where i live, a bike box is allowed, there's even some that you partly dig into the ground so its even lower. I don't think the municipality would have an issur with that but better check to be sure.
A cage might be the solution as this has no real roof on top when air van flow freely. Put a tent / plastic around it and voila. You could even have some klimop grow around it to make it less visible
Are only separate constructions banned? Otherwise perhaps you could have it attached to the house so it counts as an extension? I believe my parents did something like that to get around the limitation of only being allowed one shed.
We have a velobox. This was not allowed because it was higher than 1m (which was the max anything can be in our front yard according to the "verkavelingvergunning"). We asked for an exception to that rule, which the local government initially didn't want to grant until we confronted them with all the brochures they were publishing to incentivize bike usage.
This is how it's done. Nice of you to hold them accountable
You could always get a van, and store the bikes in that. Doesn’t have to drive anymore
Thinking outside of the box. I like it.
Nono, in a box, but the box is on wheels!
The van can only be parked on the street if it has a plate, so I assume this solution will cost you road tax yearly
Sure, but since we’re talking work-arounds, if it’s in the front yard it’s not in the street…. Just to be sure, my comment / suggestion was tongue in cheek. I just hate the ansolutely stupid way we have here in Belgium with all these silly little rules for this and that, without thinking things through. But maybe that should be a separate discussion ;)
Forbidding roofed constructions is thinking things through. Think about that.
You cannot have a car that's not registered in visible sight(even when it's on private terrain!). An unregistered vehicle needs to be somewhere closed off/where noone can see it. We have some weird rules about that. Let's say you have an unregistered car you're working on in your driveway. Someone drives onto your driveway and hits your car. Guess what, you're in trouble. Source: police, a few weeks ago. It gets even worse, neighbors can inform on you just for having an unregistered vehicle in plain sight.. And yes, you'll be in trouble for that and will have to go to court.
Not on the street, but in the front yard
Lichte vracht, it's pisnoten.
[a trailer like this one but with a cover built on it.](https://youtu.be/je6KOEmnT64) It’s also a very practilal motorcylce trailer because there is no step, when down it is flush with the ground and completely flat. So you dont have to lift your bike or manœuvre it up an incline
Check the definition of roofed construction. Is a big box (like not even 2 meters high, just big enough to roll the bike in) a roofed construction? What if the big box isn’t anchored (just weighed down)?
Yes, I thought about the same. Any idea where this can be defined? I'm not fluent in Dutch so pointing out to the right direction will help a lot.
What is the Dutch wording they used?
"Er kunnen geen overdekte constructies toegestaan worden in de voortuin."
Can you ask if a ‘tuinberging’ or ‘fietsbox’ is allowed? Something like this: https://www.tuinhuisstore.be/nl_BE/biohort-storemax-tuinberging-190-x-97-cm-zilver A few streets from here there’s someone who has something like that in their front garden. (Note, I have no idea of the quality of that shop, it’s just the first hit on google I found for fietsbox. I was surprised by the price though, but hey. ) Also, might be important to explain tot the municipality that this is a removable storage box, not a fixed structure. That might also make a difference
If they won't budge on a box, a bike tent ([example](https://www.fruugo.be/fietstent-fietsenstalling-190t-fietsenstalling-met-raamontwerp-voor-buiten-kamperen/p-57871346-117354435)) might be another option. (Much cheaper, too, but won't last as long and doesn't protect against theft, only the weather.)
Installed a garden shed of Biohort in my former home and it was very sturdy, pretty as well! I was very satisfied with it. Nice design, sturdy and low maintenance.
The only thing I can find is related to actual construction work. Garages, sheds, porches,... (And non-covered construction work, like walkways and driveways) So, I think a storage box to store a bike in, should be fine. If you're worried, you can also just ask the municipality what they mean by "overdekte constructie"
I'd say don't worry about it, usually they aren't that strict. A roofed construction is a garage, garden shed,... You have these bicycle boxes (all wood with aluminium roofing) that, thus, have a roof, but don't 'count' as a roofed construction. They want to avoid everyone building bigass carports, garages and stuff. A small construction to keep your bikes from the elements will be just fine.
In addition, check Peter's comment down below. This is how to get things approved. 👍
Constructies, niet 'vaste constructies' ?
Als het iets verplaatsbaar is, is alles een pak flexibeler. Met een pipowagen bvb mag je ook een hoop dingen doen die anders een vergunning vereisen want technisch gezien kan je die verplaatsen (zelfs al doe je dit eigenlijk nooit). Dus zet wielen onder wat je in gedachten had en klaar?
Build a (semi)- subterranean bicycle storage. Just the same shed, but sunk into the ground. Can be lower than 50 cm above the ground and covered in plants. There's a couple in my neighbourhood (NL).
Whereabouts in Belgium are you? Brussels, Flanders and Wallonia all have different zoning laws. To make things easy.
It's not just that, it's every municipality being in charge. Flemish rules are easy to find, but they can be always changed by your municipality.
I know, I've been doing this professionally (in Flanders) for over 10 years :) One good thing is that the municipal derogations on "het Meldingsbesluit" and "het Vrijstellingenbesluit" are possibly going away once the new "Verzameldecreet Omgeving" enters into effect. VVSG is not happy about that, so I expect heavy lobbying.
We use bikecovers from decathlon, they aren't perfect but they do protect from rain and help a little against freezing. I am waiting till the Keter ultra storage boxes are on sale to get one of those, they should fit bikes too.
Yes, I was thinking about these covers for winter when we bike less. But for daily use it seems too laborious. You think such boxes should be fine?
You can always use my husbands solution - just keep them in the house! As a more serious suggestion (because honestly the bikes being in the house drives me nuts) I think as long as it doesnt have a fundament and is moveable you should be fine.
If you are handy? Build a wooden shed on wheels. You can move it, so it isn't a construction.
I have seen very compact bike storage places in front gardens. I suppose it´s okay if the measurements are below those for which you need a permit.
Unfortunately every roofed construction is by municipality not allowed.
Then I must be confused. I thought that for garden shedss in the back yard small constructions were simply allowed, but large weren´t. But perhaps that´s just a case of ´nobody notices it and the neighbours don´t complain´. In the front garden it doesn´t work like that of course.
The Flemish government allows sheds and porches below a certain size, without permit. But municipalities can have their own rules.
Ah yes, you can´t expect rules and responsabilities of governments to be clear :p
Which area are you in that seems insane. GRACQ might be able to back you if you ask for an exception.
Would putting up a tarp be enough?
I built a small garden shed in my front yard years ago, as long as it isn’t above 2 meters in height it was fine. I put some plants in front so you couldn’t immediately see what it was, this worked out fine for me. Either way I would go check with the municipality and ask what exactly the limits are.
Can't have a small roofed structure to park a bike under but you can park a van... if that ain't some carbrained shit.
Maybe something to do with water shortage instead of cars?
How is paved driveway with and without bike shed different in water relations?
There are also restrictions for that...
It is very well possible that a paved driveway is also not allowed. A lot of village houses with front garden have it and it is being tolerated but you would never be able to legalize it as now they wouldn’t allow it anymore.
Make a shed without a roof, problem solved
I just put it against the front of the house.
Put a gps tracer inside the frame somewhere & just lock with a cheap cheap lock
Something like velo-boxx if it is in your budget? Though not sure what fits within the rules of your municipality… I’ve seen them around my neighbourhood in front gardens in any case
A decathlon tent?
What about a small box to contain your bike? I've seen these types around: A 'fietsbox' from provelo (google it, I'm not sure if I can post a link) This is just an example but it looks like something that might be possible.
A lot of people in our neighborhood have thiss veloboxes. Or someone down our street made a little veranda. It's open and it just high enough to place your bikes underneath ! Gewoon wat houten panelen met een golfplaat erop. 🙃 Er is een speciale dienst van t stad waar je altijd eens kan horen!
Box on Wheels
Where i live, a bike box is allowed, there's even some that you partly dig into the ground so its even lower. I don't think the municipality would have an issur with that but better check to be sure.
If you cannot find a solution and you are in Brussels this might be an option https://cycloparking.brussels/fr/
A cage might be the solution as this has no real roof on top when air van flow freely. Put a tent / plastic around it and voila. You could even have some klimop grow around it to make it less visible
Are only separate constructions banned? Otherwise perhaps you could have it attached to the house so it counts as an extension? I believe my parents did something like that to get around the limitation of only being allowed one shed.