Free Building Works 2025: Practical Examples, What Is Not Included, and the 7 Golden Rules
Concrete examples of works allowed
To better understand what truly falls under free building works, here are examples by category:
Inside the house
• Bathroom renovation: replace sanitary fixtures, tiles, and taps without altering the layout.
• New flooring: change parquet, stoneware, or laminate without permits.
• Internal and external windows/doors: replacement allowed if dimensions remain unchanged.
• Air-conditioning systems: installation of AC units or heat pumps under 12 kW is permitted.
Outside the house
• Outdoor paving: create a new walkway or dining area in the garden.
• Rainwater collection tank: underground and non-visible.
• Light pergola: with retractable fabric, without permanent side enclosures.
• VEPA on balconies or loggias: allowed if removable and transparent.
• Outdoor furniture: movable barbecue, wooden benches, planters.
• Play areas: swings or slides for children not permanently fixed to the ground.
Energy and accessibility
• Photovoltaic systems: permitted outside historic centers (Zone A).
• Barrier removal: small indoor interventions such as removable ramps or stairlifts.
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What is not included
Some works, though similar, do not fall under free building works:
• Closing balconies or terraces with rigid glass panels: transforms the space into a room → requires a permit.
• Building verandas or extensions: any increase in volume is never free building work.
• Change of use: converting a cellar into a habitable tavern or a garage into a kitchen requires authorization.
• Solar panels in Zone A (historic centers): only allowed with specific authorization.
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The 7 golden rules
1. Check restrictions: landscape and heritage rules vary by area.
2. Review condominium regulations, especially for awnings, AC units, and facades.
3. Respect seismic and system regulations (DM 37/2008).
4. In historic centers, even small works may require permits.
5. Removability and lightness are key: if the work is not, it is not free building.
6. Never create new volume: enclosing spaces always requires authorization.
7. Use the Glossary of Free Building Works (DM 2/3/2018) for up-to-date examples.
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In the next article we will answer the most common questions with a quick FAQ, designed for homeowners and buyers.
