Vietnam Construction Law regulatory updates

New regulations under the Construction Law and Decree No. 217/2026/ND-CP establish specific requirements for building permits in Vietnam. While small-scale projects, such as Grade IV construction or individual houses under seven floors with less than 500 m2 of floor area, are generally exempt from permit requirements, this exemption is void in areas designated within commune-level general planning, functional zones, or urban development areas. In such cases, residential construction must align with detailed planning and obtain a permit.

Further clarification from the Ministry of Construction addressed the necessity of construction commencement notices for private residential projects. Following a legal dispute in Hanoi regarding penalties for failing to provide notice, the Ministry confirmed that under the 2025 Construction Law, individual houses for households and individuals are explicitly exempt from the obligation to submit a construction commencement notice to local state management agencies.