Do I need a permit to repaint an apartment building?

Clause 5, Article 6 of the Law on Housing clearly states that one of the prohibited acts includes:

Illegally occupying residential area; encroachment on space and portions owned jointly or by other owners in any way; arbitrarily change the bearing structure or change the design of the private part in the apartment building.

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In addition, Clause 30, Article 1 of the amended Construction Law in 2020 states that cases must be exempted from construction permits, including:

- Works to repair or renovate inside or outside but not adjacent to the road with requirements on architectural management.

- The repair or renovation does not change the repair function, does not affect the safety of the load-bearing structure of the work, conforms to the construction planning as well as the requirements on safety, fire and explosion prevention and control together with environmental protection.

Therefore, if people living in the apartment building only need to repaint the walls, change the interior design of the apartment without changing the bearing structure of the apartment... then there is no need to apply for a construction permit.

However, this is a regulation that applies to apartment owners or investors. If the tenants of the apartment building want to repaint the apartment or change some simple furniture of the apartment, they must ask the apartment owner's permission or comply with the agreement in the rental contract.

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