Environmental and planning lawyers in Iceland

Environmental, natural resources and planning law covers how land and natural resources may be used: planning and building permits, environmental impact assessments, nature conservation, fisheries and energy resources, and the purchase and use of agricultural land.

The legal framework

• Planning Act No. 123/2010 (skipulagslög): master plans and local development plans adopted by municipalities.
• Construction Act No. 160/2010 (lög um mannvirki): building permits, construction supervision and building standards.
• Act on Environmental Assessment No. 111/2021: assessment of the environmental impact of larger projects.
• Nature Conservation Act No. 60/2013: protected areas, the right of public access and protection of nature.
• Fisheries Management Act No. 116/2006: the quota system for Iceland's fishing grounds.
• Land Act No. 81/2004 (jarðalög): ownership and use of farmland.

Planning and building

Municipalities decide land use through their master plan (aðalskipulag) and local development plans (deiliskipulag). Proposed plans are advertised, and residents and landowners have the right to submit comments. Building permits are issued by the municipal building officer. See building permits and planning in Iceland.

Appeals

Decisions on plans, permits and environmental matters can be appealed to the Environmental and Natural Resources Board of Appeal (úrskurðarnefnd umhverfis- og auðlindamála). The appeal deadline is usually one month from when the decision was published or notified, so it is easy to miss.

Natural resources and rural land

Fishing quotas, hydro and geothermal energy rights, and water rights are central to the Icelandic economy and closely regulated. Buying farmland, especially for buyers from outside the EEA, can require special permission, and the use of the land may be restricted.

When to contact an environmental or planning lawyer

Involve a lawyer when you plan a building project or a change of use, when you want to object to a neighbour's construction or a new local plan, when you buy rural land, or when a project needs an environmental assessment. For disputes with contractors, see construction and procurement law.