Jun 29, 2026 .

What Environmental Permits Are Required to Build a Plant in Poland? Which Administrative Procedures Are Mandatory?

As in other European countries, environmental obligations for businesses in Poland are regulated by dozens of legal acts, and a typical industrial plant is subject to many of them. Nevertheless, Poland remains attractive to potential investors. It is a large EU market with a still competitive cost level. In 2024, Poland’s GDP per capita amounted to 79% of the EU average¹, which means it was lower than in Western Europe but higher than in Greece, Bulgaria or Hungary.

What environmental permits apply to investors in Poland? Which administrative procedures must foreign investors complete? And can these obligations be entrusted to an external company?

Table of Contents

Environmental permits for investors in Poland: 5 key points to know at the start
What environmental permits are required for a new plant in Poland?
- Before starting the investment: environmental procedures for building a plant
Environmental decision for an investment in Poland
- How to obtain an environmental decision for an industrial investment in Poland
- Emission and operational permits
When is an integrated permit required for a plant?
How to minimise legal risk related to environmental permits
FAQ
Bibliography
Footnotes

Environmental Permits for Investors in Poland: 5 Key Points to Know at the Start

The scope of environmental obligations depends, among other things, on the type of investment, technology, location, scale of development and production, emissions, types and quantities of waste, and the manner of water use and wastewater discharge. There is no single list of permits that applies to every plant.
A case-by-case formal and legal analysis is recommended in each instance. Such an analysis provides a clear answer as to whether an environmental decision, integrated permit or sectoral permit is required.
At the first stage, it is necessary to determine whether the investment requires a decision on environmental conditions, commonly referred to as an environmental decision. This decision sets out the conditions for implementing the project and, as a rule, is required in order to obtain subsequent investment decisions, including a zoning decision and a building permit.
When planning the construction of an industrial plant, investors usually need to take into account, among other things:
- an environmental decision;
- an integrated permit or sectoral permits;
- obligations concerning products and packaging;
- obligations related to waste storage, including a fire safety report.
At different stages of the investment — before construction, before launching the installation and during the plant’s operation — different environmental obligations must be considered. Failure to comply with the initial requirements may prevent or delay obtaining a building permit, the acceptance of the facility and the start of production.
At the operational stage, meaning commercial production, the investor must plan ongoing compliance and reporting related to environmental reporting obligations in systems such as BDO for waste, products and packaging, KOBiZE for air emissions, PRTR, environmental fees for economic use of the environment, and a number of other environmental obligations.
Environmental formalities should be coordinated by one internal team of environmental protection specialists or by an external consulting company. This allows environmental activities to be coordinated consistently and helps avoid potential delays, which in some cases may postpone the entire project schedule by several to several dozen months. In Poland, companies such as Eko-Projekt support businesses in this area, either through ongoing environmental outsourcing or individual services.

What Environmental Permits Are Required for a New Plant in Poland?

Each plant usually has a slightly different set of obligations. A small chemical producer may pose a much greater environmental risk than a large furniture board warehouse. Below, we indicate the most important decisions, permits, approvals and documents that may be required under Polish law at different stages of an investment.

Before Starting the Investment: Environmental Procedures for Building a Plant

What must the investor obtain, prepare or verify?	When does it apply?	Legal basis
Decision on environmental conditions	When a project may always or potentially have a significant impact on the environment. The catalogue of such projects is included in the Regulation of the Council of Ministers of 10 September 2019 on projects likely to have a significant impact on the environment.	Act of 3 October 2008 on the provision of information on the environment and its protection, public participation in environmental protection and environmental impact assessments, hereinafter referred to as the EIA Act, in particular Articles 71–72.
Project Information Sheet	When a project may potentially have a significant impact on the environment and in other cases indicated in the Act. On its basis, the authority assesses the scale of the investment and decides whether to conduct an environmental impact assessment, or EIA.	EIA Act, in particular Articles 62a, 64 and 69.
Environmental Impact Assessment Report	When a project may always have a significant impact on the environment or when the authority decides to conduct an EIA after analysing the Project Information Sheet.	EIA Act, in particular Articles 66 and 69–70.
Natura 2000 impact assessment	When a project may have a significant impact on a Natura 2000 site, including when it is not listed in the regulation on projects likely to have a significant impact on the environment.	EIA Act, in particular Articles 96–103; Act of 16 April 2004 on Nature Conservation.
Other nature-related decisions and restrictions, including a tree removal permit and a permit for derogations from prohibitions applicable to protected species	When preparing the land requires the removal of trees or shrubs, interference with habitats, nests or sites of protected species, or works in an area covered by a form of nature protection.	Nature Conservation Act, in particular Articles 6, 15, 17, 24, 44–45, 51–56 and 83–90.
Environmental conditions arising from spatial planning	When selecting the location of the plant, the investor should check the restrictions included in the local spatial development plan or in the zoning decision.	Act of 27 March 2003 on Spatial Planning and Development.

Environmental Decision for an Investment in Poland

Environmental decisions, or more precisely decisions on environmental conditions for the implementation of a project, determine whether and under what conditions projects that may have a significant impact on the environment can be carried out. Similar procedures apply across the European Union and result from Directive 2011/92/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 December 2011. Obtaining an environmental decision opens the investment process. The investor must take the conditions of the decision into account in the design, during construction and operation, and sometimes also during decommissioning of the plant.

How to Obtain an Environmental Decision for an Industrial Investment in Poland

An environmental decision is issued for a specific project. Technologically connected projects are treated as one project, even if they are implemented by different entities.

In most cases, environmental decisions are issued by the commune head, mayor or city mayor. In selected cases, for example where the environmental impact of the investment is significant, the competent authority is the Regional Director for Environmental Protection.

The application must include a Project Information Sheet or an Environmental Impact Assessment Report, as well as other documents, including an excerpt from the land register and confirmation of legal title to the land. The scope of documentation depends on the type of investment and its possible impact on the surroundings.

The authority may request opinions and approvals from other institutions, such as the Regional Director for Environmental Protection, the sanitary inspection authority or the State Water Holding Polish Waters.

When the authority conducts an environmental impact assessment, it ensures public participation in the proceedings. Residents and environmental organisations may submit comments and requests, which can influence the conditions for implementing the investment set out in the environmental decision.

The regulations provide general deadlines for approvals, opinions and issuing decisions, but they do not include the time needed, for example, to supplement documentation or other typical delays and prolonged administrative proceedings. Experience shows that obtaining an environmental decision for industrial investments currently takes approximately 12 months, while for road investments such as expressways or motorways it usually takes several years.

Failure to obtain the required environmental decision usually blocks the issuance of a building permit or other approvals needed to implement the investment. Carrying out a project without the required environmental decision, or in breach of its conditions, may result in suspension of works, problems with legalising the investment, administrative fines and the entire investment process being stopped for many months.

Operational Permits: Integrated and Emission-Related Sectoral Permits

What must the investor obtain or verify?	When does it apply?	Legal basis
Integrated permit	When the plant operates an IPPC installation listed in the Regulation of the Minister of the Environment of 27 August 2014 on types of installations that may cause significant pollution of individual natural elements or the environment as a whole.	Act of 27 April 2001 — Environmental Protection Law, in particular Articles 180–181 and 201–219.
Sectoral permits	When the installation does not require an integrated permit but uses the environment in a way that requires separate approvals. This may concern, among other things, emissions of gases or dust into the air, water abstraction, wastewater discharge, water services, construction of water facilities or discharge of industrial wastewater into a third-party sewage system.	Environmental Protection Law, in particular Articles 180–181 and 220–229. Relevant implementing regulations concerning emission standards and cases where a permit is not required.
Notifications for installations not requiring a permit	When the regulations do not require a permit but the installation may affect the environment and is subject to notification. This applies to selected installations causing air emissions, activities requiring a water-law notification or devices emitting electromagnetic fields.	Environmental Protection Law, in particular Article 152; Act of 20 July 2017 — Water Law, in particular Articles 389–390. Relevant implementing regulations specifying the types of installations requiring notification.
Other operational obligations	The investor should verify permissible levels and obligations concerning notification, measurements or obtaining a greenhouse gas emission permit.	When the plant’s operation may cause noise, electromagnetic field emissions or greenhouse gas emissions covered by the EU ETS. Environmental Protection Law, in particular Articles 112–115a and 121–124; Act of 12 June 2015 on the greenhouse gas emission allowance trading system; Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 October 2003.

When Is an Integrated Permit Required for a Plant?

Integrated permits are obtained for installations, not for the entire plant, that may cause significant environmental pollution and are listed in the Regulation of the Minister of the Environment of 27 August 2014. One integrated permit replaces several sectoral permits and sets out the conditions for using the environment for a given installation, including:

permissible levels of gas or dust emissions into the air;
conditions for water abstraction, wastewater discharge and rainwater management;
rules for generating, storing and transferring waste;
requirements concerning monitoring, measurements and environmental reporting;
methods for preventing industrial accidents and limiting their environmental consequences.

The regulation covers, among others, large energy, metallurgical, chemical and food installations, as well as installations for the production of paper, cement, lime and glass, and for intensive livestock farming.

Products and Packaging

What must the investor obtain or verify?	When does it apply?	Legal basis
Integrated permit	When the plant operates an IPPC installation listed in the Regulation of the Minister of the Environment of 27 August 2014 on types of installations that may cause significant pollution of individual natural elements or the environment as a whole.	Act of 27 April 2001 — Environmental Protection Law, in particular Articles 180–181 and 201–219.
Sectoral permits	When the installation does not require an integrated permit but uses the environment in a way that requires separate approvals. This may concern, among other things, emissions of gases or dust into the air, water abstraction, wastewater discharge, water services, construction of water facilities or discharge of industrial wastewater into a third-party sewage system.	Environmental Protection Law, in particular Articles 180–181 and 220–229. Relevant implementing regulations concerning emission standards and cases where a permit is not required.
Notifications for installations not requiring a permit	When the regulations do not require a permit but the installation may affect the environment and is subject to notification. This applies to selected installations causing air emissions, activities requiring a water-law notification or devices emitting electromagnetic fields.	Environmental Protection Law, in particular Article 152; Act of 20 July 2017 — Water Law, in particular Articles 389–390. Relevant implementing regulations specifying the types of installations requiring notification.
Other operational obligations	The investor should verify permissible levels and obligations concerning notification, measurements or obtaining a greenhouse gas emission permit.	When the plant’s operation may cause noise, electromagnetic field emissions or greenhouse gas emissions covered by the EU ETS. Environmental Protection Law, in particular Articles 112–115a and 121–124; Act of 12 June 2015 on the greenhouse gas emission allowance trading system; Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 October 2003.

Waste Management

What must the investor obtain or verify?	When does it apply?	Legal basis
Waste generation permit	When, during the operation of an installation, waste is generated in quantities exceeding statutory thresholds and the installation is not covered by an integrated permit.	Environmental Protection Law, in particular Articles 180–181.
Waste processing permit	When the entrepreneur carries out recovery, recycling, disposal or other waste processing activities.	Waste Act, in particular Article 41.
Waste records in BDO	When the plant generates waste or manages waste covered by the record-keeping obligation.	Waste Act, in particular Articles 66–72.

Environmental Reporting

What must the investor prepare?	When does it apply?	Legal basis
Annual waste report in BDO	When the entrepreneur keeps waste records or is subject to product or packaging obligations.	Waste Act, in particular Articles 73–76.
KOBiZE report	When the plant emits greenhouse gases or other substances into the air.	Act of 17 July 2009 on the system for managing greenhouse gas emissions and other substances, in particular Article 7.
Statement and fee for use of the environment	When the plant emits substances into the air, stores waste or uses emission allowances.	Environmental Protection Law, in particular Articles 273–289.
Product and packaging reports	When the entrepreneur places products, packaging or packaged products covered by statutory obligations on the market.	Waste Act; Act on the Management of Packaging and Packaging Waste; Act on the Obligations of Entrepreneurs in the Management of Certain Waste and on the Product Fee.
Measurements and reports required under environmental permits	When a decision or permit imposes measurement or reporting obligations.	Environmental Protection Law; Waste Act; Water Law.

Other Legal Requirements When Building an Industrial Plant

What must the investor obtain or verify?	When and what does it concern?	Legal basis
Compliance of the investment with the local plan or a zoning decision	When the investor selects the location of the plant. It is necessary to check whether the local spatial development plan allows industrial activity, the planned development and the investment parameters.	Act of 27 March 2003 on Spatial Planning and Development.
Building permit or notification of construction works	When the investor builds, extends or reconstructs a facility. The construction of an industrial plant usually requires a building permit.	Act of 7 July 1994 — Construction Law, in particular Articles 28–34.
Connection conditions and access to a public road	When the plant requires connection to the electricity, gas, water supply, sewage or other infrastructure networks, as well as transport access.	Act of 10 April 1997 — Energy Law; Act of 7 June 2001 on Collective Water Supply and Collective Wastewater Disposal; Act of 21 March 1985 on Public Roads.
Technical, sanitary, fire safety and sector-specific approvals	When required by the design, type of facility, technology or manner of use of the plant. This may concern, among other things, fire safety, sanitary, heritage conservation and technical inspection requirements.	Construction Law; Act of 24 August 1991 on Fire Protection; Act of 14 March 1985 on the State Sanitary Inspection; Act of 21 December 2000 on Technical Inspection.
Notification of completion of construction or occupancy permit	When construction has been completed and the investor wishes to start using the plant. The scope of the obligation depends on the type of facility and the construction decision.	Construction Law, in particular Articles 54–59.

How to Minimise Legal Risk Related to Environmental Permits

Errors in environmental obligations may delay the issuance of decisions, hinder the launch of the plant or result in administrative penalties. To reduce this risk, ongoing substantive supervision is needed over documentation, deadlines, permit conditions and current obligations after the start of operations. This can be handled by an internal team of environmental specialists or through outsourcing.

For many years, companies offering environmental consulting and process outsourcing, such as Eko-Projekt, have been operating in Poland. We provide a wide range of support — from consultations, through conducting proceedings for obtaining environmental decisions or integrated permits, including studies and preparation of documentation, to ongoing environmental compliance services for companies. We are distinguished by broad experience in large projects, with a particular focus on the manufacturing, warehouse and renewable energy sectors, as well as by a team of experienced specialists and experts with many years, and in some cases decades, of professional experience.

High-quality support of this kind helps, among other things, to:

reduce the risk of investment delays;
reduce the risk of a negative or refusal decision;
avoid costly changes to the project;
limit the risk of penalties and problems when launching the plant;
better plan the investment budget and schedule;
relieve the investor so they can focus on planning and implementing the investment.

FAQ:

1. Does the process of obtaining environmental permits differ for foreign companies?

No. As a rule, foreign companies follow the same procedures as Polish entities. In principle, a company should establish and register a company in Poland. However, at the stage of obtaining the environmental decision — unlike operational permits, such as an integrated permit or sectoral permits — it does not have to own the land on which the plant or installation is to be built.

2. What are the costs and waiting times for environmental decisions in Poland?

Costs depend on the scale of the investment, studies, documentation and administrative fees. The procedure itself usually takes approximately 12 months, especially when it requires the preparation of an EIA report, approvals, public participation or supplementation of documentation.

3. What documents should be prepared before starting an investment in Poland?

The most commonly required documents include a Project Information Sheet or EIA report, a map showing the location of the investment, land register data, a project concept, a site development plan together with a land balance, a detailed description of the technology, expected emissions, waste and wastewater, and documents required by the authority for a specific procedure.

4. Does Poland apply EIA procedures, meaning environmental impact assessments, to industrial plants?

Yes. Poland applies EIA procedures in accordance with national and EU law. They apply to plants that may always or potentially have a significant impact on the environment.

5. Who issues the decision on environmental conditions in Poland?

The decision is most often issued by the commune head, mayor or city mayor. In selected cases, the competent authority is the Regional Director for Environmental Protection.

Bibliography

Directive 2011/92/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 December 2011 on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment, https://sip.lex.pl/akty-prawne/dzienniki-UE/dyrektywa-2011-92-ue-w-sprawie-oceny-skutkow-wywieranych-przez-niektore-68100641, accessed on 16 June 2026.
Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 October 2003 establishing a scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Union, https://sip.lex.pl/akty-prawne/dzienniki-UE/dyrektywa-2003-87-we-ustanawiajaca-system-handlu-przydzialami-emisji-gazow-67428675, accessed on 16 June 2026.
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Regulation of the Minister of the Environment of 27 August 2014 on types of installations that may cause significant pollution of individual natural elements or the environment as a whole, https://sip.lex.pl/akty-prawne/dzu-dziennik-ustaw/rodzaje-instalacji-mogacych-powodowac-znaczne-zanieczyszczenie-18120967, accessed on 16 June 2026.
Act of 3 October 2008 on the provision of information on the environment and its protection, public participation in environmental protection and environmental impact assessments, https://sip.lex.pl/akty-prawne/dzu-dziennik-ustaw/udostepnianie-informacji-o-srodowisku-i-jego-ochronie-udzial-17497783, accessed on 16 June 2026.
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Act of 14 December 2012 on Waste, https://sip.lex.pl/akty-prawne/dzu-dziennik-ustaw/odpady-17940659, accessed on 16 June 2026.
Act of 13 June 2013 on the Management of Packaging and Packaging Waste, https://sip.lex.pl/akty-prawne/dzu-dziennik-ustaw/gospodarka-opakowaniami-i-odpadami-opakowaniowymi-18015362, accessed on 16 June 2026.
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Act of 11 September 2015 on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment, https://sip.lex.pl/akty-prawne/dzu-dziennik-ustaw/zuzyty-sprzet-elektryczny-i-elektroniczny-18233050, accessed on 16 June 2026.
Act of 24 April 2009 on Batteries and Accumulators, https://sip.lex.pl/akty-prawne/dzu-dziennik-ustaw/baterie-i-akumulatory-17545060, accessed on 16 June 2026.
Act of 17 July 2009 on the system for managing greenhouse gas emissions and other substances, https://sip.lex.pl/akty-prawne/dzu-dziennik-ustaw/system-zarzadzania-emisjami-gazow-cieplarnianych-i-innych-substancji-17562751, accessed on 16 June 2026.
Act of 7 July 1994 — Construction Law, https://sip.lex.pl/akty-prawne/dzu-dziennik-ustaw/prawo-budowlane-16796118, accessed on 16 June 2026.
Act of 10 April 1997 — Energy Law, https://sip.lex.pl/akty-prawne/dzu-dziennik-ustaw/prawo-energetyczne-16798478, accessed on 16 June 2026.
Act of 7 June 2001 on Collective Water Supply and Collective Wastewater Disposal, https://sip.lex.pl/akty-prawne/dzu-dziennik-ustaw/zbiorowe-zaopatrzenie-w-wode-i-zbiorowe-odprowadzanie-sciekow-16904006/art-1, accessed on 16 June 2026.
Act of 21 March 1985 on Public Roads, https://sip.lex.pl/akty-prawne/dzu-dziennik-ustaw/drogi-publiczne-16791834, accessed on 16 June 2026.
Act of 24 August 1991 on Fire Protection, https://sip.lex.pl/akty-prawne/dzu-dziennik-ustaw/ochrona-przeciwpozarowa-16794312, accessed on 16 June 2026.
Act of 14 March 1985 on the State Sanitary Inspection, https://sip.lex.pl/akty-prawne/dzu-dziennik-ustaw/panstwowa-inspekcja-sanitarna-16791823, accessed on 16 June 2026.
Act of 21 December 2000 on Technical Inspection, https://sip.lex.pl/akty-prawne/dzu-dziennik-ustaw/dozor-techniczny-16889440, accessed on 16 June 2026.

Footnotes

Statistics Poland, Socio-economic situation of the country, https://ssgk.stat.gov.pl/07.2025/Sytuacja_spoleczno-gospodarcza_w_Unii_Europejskiej_i_w_wybranych_krajach.html, accessed on 16 June 2026.