Low-emission zone legislation

The information you provide and the information obtained from you is processed by the City of Ghent and the Environment and Climate Department, Low-Emission Zone Administration, Botermarkt 1, 9000 Gent. This information will be exclusively used for processing applications for access to the low-emission zone (LEZ), for enforcing the LEZ, and for measuring the impact of the LEZ. 

You are at all times entitled to consult your personal data and rectify any incorrect data. In some cases, you can also have your data deleted. Do you want to exercise these rights? Then complete the contact form on this page.

Do you suspect that someone is using your personal data unlawfully? Report it to us via privacy@stad.gent. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Flemish Monitoring Commission for the processing of personal data.

You can also find more information about your rights and privacy here.

The City of Ghent, the Department of Environment, and the Directorate-General for Road Transport and Traffic Safety of the Federal Public Service Mobility have a protocol regarding the processing of data relating to the low-emission zone. This Protocol was ratified by the Information Security Committee No 19/017 on 5 March 2019 and approved by the College of Mayor and Aldermen at its meeting on 22 August 2019.

The City of Ghent has been authorized to obtain personal data of people who have registered a vehicle from the Environment, Nature, and Energy Department and vice versa. This protocol was ratified upon consultation with the information security committee No. 19/017 of 5 March 2019 and approved by the executive committee during its meeting on 22 August 2019.

The Government of Flanders developed a framework for the introduction of a low-emission zone in the Flemish territory. All the Flemish cities and towns that wish to introduce an LEZ shall do this based on the Flemish Parliament Act of 27/11/2015 (in Dutch), including the changes named in the ministerial decree of 3/05/2019 (in Dutch), and the ministerial decree of the Government of Flanders (in Dutch) on low emission zones of 26/02/2016, including the changes in the ministerial decree of 31/03/2017 (in Dutch).

The introduction of the low-emission zone, the local entry requirements, the violations, and penalties are set out in the Municipal Rules and Regulations for the Ghent Low Emission Zone and the retribution regulation for the Ghent Low Emission.

As set out in article 4 of the Municipal Rules and Regulations for the Ghent Low-Emission Zone, it is not possible to transfer permits, registrations, or exemptions. If you sell your vehicle and/or change the number plate, the vehicle needs to be re-registered with the new number plate or you need to buy a new permit. Refunds are only possible in specific situations as set out in article 5 of the Price Regulations. All relevant requirements can be found in the terms and conditions for applying for an exemption or registration or for buying a permit. These terms and conditions include a summary of all the rules you need to follow if you apply for an exemption or registration or buy a permit.