Contents
The short answer. Before renovating an apartment you need two kinds of documents. The first are between you and the contractor: a contract with annexes (quote, schedule, specifications) and an agreed procedure for changes and handover. The second are building-board (būvvalde) documents, needed only when the works require them. Latvia’s Cabinet Regulation No. 529 Ēku būvnoteikumi (Building Construction Regulations) says no construction intention documents are needed for an interior design project without renovation, reconstruction, restoration or demolition works. Works that affect structures, the layout or the use of rooms need a notification, an explanatory memo or a building permit. This article is for information; the building board gives the final answer for your case.
Key takeaways
- Sign the contract and annexes before work starts — whether or not a building-board procedure is needed.
- The procedure depends on the type of works: finishing, simplified renovation, simplified reconstruction or reconstruction.
- Since December 2025 Riga has been checking construction notifications more strictly; touching load-bearing walls on a notification is not allowed.
- If the works affect other owners’ rights, you need their consent — for example a decision of the apartment owners’ general meeting.
Documents between you and the contractor
You need these for any renovation, including a cosmetic one:
| Document | What it should contain |
|---|---|
| Contract | Parties, scope of works, deadlines, price or how it is set, payment terms, responsibilities, warranty terms |
| Quote (annex) | Line items with quantities, materials shown separately, VAT treatment, assumptions and exclusions |
| Schedule (annex) | Stages and their order; what depends on the client’s decisions |
| Specifications or plans | Chosen materials, technical points, layout |
| Change procedure | How extra works are requested, priced and approved |
| Handover procedure | How acceptance works and which document is signed |
In RigaBuild’s process, the scope is confirmed and the quote prepared after a site visit, and the agreed terms are set out in the contract before work starts. To see what a quote looks like block by block, read Renovation estimate example. The apartment renovation planning checklist covers the preparation stage as a whole.
When a renovation needs building-board documents
Latvia’s Construction Law and Cabinet Regulation No. 529 distinguish several types of construction work. The key definitions:
- Renovation (atjaunošana) — works that replace worn load-bearing elements or make functional or technical improvements without changing the building’s volume or the load-bearing capacity of its elements (Construction Law, Section 1(4)).
- Simplified renovation — functional or technical improvements in a building or its part without replacing worn load-bearing elements, without changing the volume or use, and without affecting the façade (Cabinet Regulation No. 529, para 1¹.5).
- Simplified reconstruction — creating, altering or closing openings (for example windows, doors, utility shafts) in load-bearing structures (para 1¹.6).
- Reconstruction (pārbūve) — works that change the volume of a building or its part, or strengthen load-bearing elements (Construction Law, Section 1(9)).
A flat in an apartment block is part of a building. Which procedure applies to specific works depends on the type of works, the building group and whether the building is a cultural monument.
Indicative map: works → procedure
The table reflects the version of Cabinet Regulation No. 529 in force from 1 October 2026 to 7 January 2027. It is not legal advice; the building board decides the exact procedure for your case.
| Type of works in a flat | Procedure under Cabinet Regulation No. 529 | Paragraph |
|---|---|---|
| Interior works without renovation, reconstruction, restoration or demolition | No construction intention documents needed | 7.1 |
| Simplified renovation of part of a group 2 or group 3 building (not a cultural monument) | Construction notification in BIS | 7¹.1 |
| Renovation (other cases) | Explanatory memo | 7².6 |
| Change of use of a group of rooms without reconstruction | Explanatory memo | 7².7 |
| Simplified reconstruction, e.g. a new door opening in a load-bearing wall of an apartment block | Explanatory memo | 7².8 |
| Other cases, e.g. reconstruction | Minimum-scope building design and building permit | 7³ |
| Glazing a loggia in a group 2 or group 3 building | No intention documents only with an approved sketch or passport, or under the municipality’s model sketch | 7.4.7 |
If the works need technical or special conditions or approvals from other authorities, these must be obtained before the documents are submitted (para 9¹).
Riga: what is checked in notifications
On 4 February 2026, Riga municipality announced that since December 2025 it has been checking construction notifications in the Construction Information System (BIS) more strictly. The municipality stated that construction filed by notification cannot be approved if:
- the building is a cultural monument;
- load-bearing or external enclosing structures will be affected;
- the use of a group of rooms changes, or rooms are joined to or separated from groups of rooms with a different use;
- new apartments are created.
The municipality also stated that reconstruction of load-bearing walls in serial large-panel blocks, done on a notification and without strengthening, counts as unauthorised construction. If you plan to touch walls in a serial block, also read Renovating a Soviet-era apartment in Riga.
Not sure whether your renovation needs documents? Request a quote and describe the planned works — on the site visit RigaBuild will point out which works may affect structures and what to check with the building board.
Common property and neighbours
A flat renovation rarely affects only your flat. Latvia’s Apartment Property Law (Section 10) requires owners to treat common property with care, allow access to utilities and structures, and follow the decisions of the apartment owners’ community. Owners must also give up-to-date contact details in BIS or to the house manager.
If construction affects third parties’ rights, Cabinet Regulation No. 529 requires their consent as a separate agreement — for example a decision of the owners’ general meeting or a voting record (paras 8.2 and 9). In practice, before the works it is worth:
- □ telling the house manager about the renovation and its timing;
- □ finding out whether the works affect risers, ventilation or other common elements;
- □ checking the permitted working hours and noise rules in the building;
- □ warning neighbours about the noisiest stages.
If works were not approved
Under the Construction Law, unauthorised construction includes, for example, works done without filing a required notification in BIS or without a required decision accepting the construction intention (Section 18(2)). If a building inspector finds unauthorised construction, they stop the works, and the authority decides either to require restoration of the previous state or to permit the construction once the regulatory requirements are met (Section 18(5)).
If the flat already has alterations whose approval status is unknown, check it with the building board before a new renovation. This matters especially if you plan to sell the flat or if the new works affect the same structures.
Common questions
Questions selected from search data and typical questions; they are not questions from specific clients. Answers are for information only.
Does a cosmetic renovation need approval? Usually not, if it is finishing work that does not affect structures, utility systems, the layout or the use of rooms. If in doubt, ask the building board.
Who files the notification in BIS? Construction is initiated by the owner or another entitled person; preparing the documents can be entrusted to a construction specialist or construction company. Write down who does what in the contract.
Can I remove a wall in my flat? It depends on whether the wall is load-bearing. Openings in load-bearing structures are at least a simplified reconstruction, which in an apartment block usually needs an explanatory memo — and Riga does not accept such works on a notification.
What if earlier alterations were never approved? Ask the building board about their status. The Construction Law allows the authority to require restoration of the previous state or to permit the construction once the requirements are met.
Sources
- Būvniecības likums (Section 1(4), (9), (14); Section 18(2) and (5)) — Saeima (likumi.lv); version in force 01.08.2026–07.01.2027; accessed 26.10.2026.
- MK 02.09.2014. noteikumi Nr. 529 "Ēku būvnoteikumi" — Cabinet of Ministers (likumi.lv); version in force 01.10.2026–07.01.2027 (including the amendments made by Cabinet Regulation No. 564 of 22.09.2026); accessed 26.10.2026.
- Dzīvokļa īpašuma likums (Sections 4, 9, 10) — Saeima (likumi.lv); version in force from 29.05.2026; accessed 26.10.2026.
- Rīgas pašvaldība pastiprināti pārbaudīs būvniecības paziņojumus — Riga City Municipality (published on LV portāls, 04.02.2026); accessed 26.10.2026.
Services where the procedure most often needs checking: major renovation, apartment renovation and bathroom renovation. For contract content and choosing a contractor, see How to choose a renovation contractor in Riga.
Planning a renovation with layout changes? Request a quote and attach the floor plan. For a first cost estimate, use the renovation calculator.
Prepared by the RigaBuild editorial team. Prices, timelines and sources checked on 26 October 2026. This article is for information only and does not replace legal advice or a building-board decision.