Based on the provisions of point g, clause 2, Article 43 of the 2025 Construction Law on construction permits as follows:
2. Before starting construction of the project, the investor must have a construction permit except in the following cases:
a) State secret works; urgent and emergency construction works; works under special public investment projects; works under investment projects under special investment procedures; temporary construction works as prescribed in this Law; construction works in land areas used for national defense and security purposes as prescribed by land law;
b) Works under public investment projects decided to be invested in and built by the Prime Minister, heads of central agencies of political organizations, the Supreme People's Procuracy, the Supreme People's Court, the State Audit Office, the Presidential Office, the National Assembly Office, Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-attached agencies, central agencies of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations, and Chairmen of People's Committees at all levels;
c) Construction works built along routes in areas from two or more provincial-level administrative units; construction works built along routes outside areas oriented for urban development, determined according to urban and rural planning or sectoral detailed planning approved by competent state agencies or approved by competent agencies for route plans;
d) Sea works under offshore construction investment projects that have been assigned sea areas by competent authorities for project implementation; airports, works at airports, works ensuring flight operations outside airports;
e) Advertising works that are not subject to construction permits according to the provisions of the law on advertising; passive telecommunications technical infrastructure works;
e) Construction works under construction investment projects that have been appraised by specialized construction agencies for the Feasibility Study Report, adjusted Feasibility Study Report and have been approved according to regulations;
g) Construction works of level IV, individual houses with a scale of less than 7 floors with a total floor area of less than 500 m2 and not belonging to one of the following areas: functional areas, urban development areas identified in the general plan of the city; functional areas, rural residential areas, urban development areas identified in the general plan of urban areas under provinces, under cities, general plan of economic zones, national tourist areas; construction areas identified in the general plan of communes; areas that have architectural management regulations;
h) Repair and renovation works inside works or exterior repair and renovation works not adjacent to roads in urban areas that require architectural management according to regulations of competent state agencies; the content of repair and renovation does not change the purpose and function of use, does not affect the safety of the load-bearing structure of the works, ensures fire prevention and fighting requirements, environmental protection, and the ability to connect technical infrastructure.
Accordingly, not all individual houses are exempt from construction permits, but only individual houses under 7 floors with a total floor area of less than 500 m2 and not belonging to one of the following areas:
- Functional zones, urban development areas identified in the general plan of the city;
- Functional zones, rural residential areas, urban development areas identified in the general urban plan of provinces, cities, general plan of economic zones, national tourist areas;
- Construction area identified in commune general planning; area that has architectural management regulations.
Construction Law 2025 takes effect from July 1, 2026. Except for Clauses 2, 3, Article 43, Article 71 and Clauses 3, 4, 5, Article 95, Construction Law 2025 takes effect from January 1, 2026.
