New Taipei City’s Simplified Interior Renovation: Scope and Fast-Track Tips

“Ugh, another permit application for interior renovation? I heard it takes months and requires an architect’s seal. So troublesome!” exclaimed Mrs. Chen, a homeowner looking at her newly purchased (used home) in Banqiao. The thought of repeating her friend’s complicated application process in Taipei made her head spin. She just wanted to replace the wooden flooring and change the ceiling design; did she really have to go through the “standard review” process?

However, her designer smiled, opened the “New Taipei City Interior Renovation Online Application System,” and showed her the “Simplified Renovation” application page. “Mrs. Chen, don’t worry. Your unit is on the 4th floor, the project cost is under NT$12 million, and we are ‘not altering any partitions.’ In New Taipei City, this perfectly fits the ‘scope of application’ for ‘Simplified Renovation.’ This is a convenient, fast-track service from the New Taipei City Government, and the process is much quicker!”

The stark contrast between these two scenarios highlights the biggest difference in renovation review between New Taipei City and Taipei City. The New Taipei City Department of Public Works understands citizens’ dual desires for legality and efficiency, thus creating the “New Taipei City Simplified Renovation” fast lane. This article will delve into its precise “scope of application” and share legal, compliant “fast-track techniques,” demonstrating how this efficiency revolution makes legal renovations less of a hassle.

Challenges of New Taipei City’s Simplified Renovation: Why “Wishful Thinking” Fails Fast-Track Techniques?

New Taipei City’s regulations for “Simplified Renovation” and “Exemption from Application” were intended to be convenient, but they have unfortunately become a breeding ground for those with a “wishful thinking” mentality. The flaw in the old system was that homeowners and contractors often only looked at “half” the rules, believing that being “below the 5th floor” or having a “low project cost” was a safety net. They overlooked the devil in the details, ultimately leading to “fast-track” failures and even “unauthorized renovations.”

The Pitfall of “Exemption from Application”: When “Below the 5th Floor” Meets “Neighbor Complaints”

According to central regulations, residential buildings below the 5th floor that do not involve partition changes are indeed within the “exemption from application” scope. This is the “old experience” for many New Taipei City residents (and even general contractors). However, the paradox of this “exemption” lies in its reliance on the premise of “no neighbor complaints” and “100% compliance.” As soon as construction noise leads to a neighbor’s complaint, and a public works inspector arrives, you must “proactively prove” that your project has “completely” avoided partition changes and the addition of bathrooms. During this meticulous inspection, even a minor flaw can shift you from the ambiguous zone of “exemption” into the legal trap of “unauthorized renovation.”

The Paradox of “Taipei Standards”: When “Over-Defensiveness” Meets “New Taipei Efficiency”

Another extreme is designers relocating from Taipei City, bringing their “Taipei standards” baggage. They habitually prepare “60% green building material calculation reports,” required only in Taipei, or insist on the strictest fire resistance time certifications for all “partition walls” (even within residential units). This “over-defensive” old model is undoubtedly “using a sledgehammer to crack a nut” for New Taipei City’s “Simplified Renovation” review. It not only increases homeowners’ design certification costs but also misses the opportunity for the “fast-track” convenience offered by the New Taipei City Government.

A One-Sided Interpretation of “NT Million”: Ignoring the Core Premise of “Unchanged Layout”

Many people remember the figure “under NT$12 million” but forget its two crucial prerequisites: being “below the 5th floor” and “no layout changes.” Some homeowners assumed their 6th-floor unit with a NT$5 million project cost should qualify as “simplified”; others thought a 4th-floor unit with a NT$3 million project cost could afford to “casually” knock down a wall. Both situations do **not** apply to simplified renovation. The former fails due to the floor level (6th floor and above are always standard review), and the latter fails due to “partition changes” (always standard review).

How New Taipei City’s Simplified Renovation Rewrites the Rules: The Roles of “Below the 5th Floor” and the “NT Million Threshold”

To master New Taipei City’s “fast-track techniques,” you must first precisely understand the scope of “Simplified Renovation.” The New Taipei City Department of Public Works’ rules are clear: they use “floor level,” “project cost,” and “construction content” as criteria to screen out low-risk projects and provide a fast lane.

New Core Elements: Who is Eligible for “Simplified Renovation”?

According to the “New Taipei City Building Interior Renovation Simplified Application Convenience Service Notice,” you must meet all the following conditions simultaneously to be eligible for “Simplified Renovation”:

• Building Type: Must be a building “not for public use” (most commonly H-2 class residential).
• Renovation Floor: Your unit must be on a floor **5th floor or below**.
• Project Cost: The total cost of the renovation project must be **NT$12 million or less**.

These three are the “basic tickets”; missing any one disqualifies you. If you are on the 6th floor, or if it’s an office space, you will directly enter the “Standard Renovation” process.

The Critical Red Lines: 3 Actions Absolutely Prohibited in “Simplified Renovation”

Having the basic ticket isn’t enough; your “construction content” must be low-risk. As soon as you cross any of the following “red lines,” you will immediately lose your eligibility for “Simplified Renovation” and be kicked back to the “Standard Renovation” process:

• Red Line 1: Altering “Partition Walls.” This means any change, whether “adding” or “removing,” any partition wall within your unit is not allowed.
• Red Line 2: Adding “Bathrooms” or “Kitchens.” Adding a toilet in a place where there wasn’t one before is not allowed.
• Red Line 3: Altering the “Floor Slab.” This means breaking through the floor slab, which is equally strict in both New Taipei City and Taipei City.

(So, what can be done with “Simplified Renovation”? It covers most “beautification projects,” such as: re-laying flooring, replacing ceiling designs (as long as they don’t obstruct fire safety systems), updating kitchen cabinets, painting, and installing built-in cabinets.)

Beyond “Standard Review”: Mastering 3 Fast-Track Techniques for New Taipei City’s Simplified Renovation

Once you confirm your project 100% meets the “scope of application” mentioned above, congratulations, you’ve reached the starting line for fast-track passage. Now, mastering these 3 techniques will make your process smoother.

Core Technique: Precise “Case Classification” and “Honest Declaration”

The first fast-track technique is “honesty.” Do not attempt to “sneak things in,” such as concealing wall demolition in your drawings. While New Taipei City’s review process is simplified, reviewers remain diligent in verifying the consistency between drawings and the actual site. Accurately classifying your project as “Simplified Renovation” during application and honestly submitting drawings that show “no partition changes” is the first step to earning trust and speed.

Key Technique: Entrusting a “Licensed Renovation Contractor” for Certification

This is one of the biggest “conveniences” in New Taipei City’s “Simplified Renovation” SOP. Unlike “Standard Renovation,” which mandates certification by a “licensed architect,” “Simplified Renovation” allows **renovation contractors** (companies) holding a “legal interior renovation business registration certificate” to perform certification and applications.

This offers two major benefits:

1. Cost Savings: The certification fees charged by renovation contractors are typically lower than those of architects.
2. Process Familiarity: Many local renovation contractors are more familiar with the application procedures and nuances of simplified renovation, reducing errors and back-and-forth document revisions.

Therefore, when homeowners choose a contractor, they must ensure the company possesses a “legal renovation business registration certificate.” This will be your key to initiating the fast-track process.

Supporting Technique: Utilizing the “Online Application System”

The New Taipei City Department of Public Works’ “Interior Renovation Online Application System” is highly mature. Instead of submitting bulky paper drawings, scan all documents (application forms, drawings, contractor registration certificate, occupancy permit, etc.) into electronic files and upload them through the online system. This not only saves time on official mail transit but also allows you to check the “review progress” online anytime. All requests for supplementary documents are clear, significantly improving administrative efficiency.

Here is the “New Taipei City Simplified Renovation Fast-Track Dashboard” to help you self-check:

• Check Point: Renovation Floor
  • Eligible Scope (Must Meet): 5th floor (and below)
  • NG Status (Will Convert to Standard Review): 6th floor (and above) (e.g., you are a 6th-floor resident)
• Check Point: Building Use
  • Eligible Scope (Must Meet): H-2 class residential (not for public use)
  • NG Status (Will Convert to Standard Review): G-2 offices, D-5 shops (for public use)
• Check Point: Project Cost
  • Eligible Scope (Must Meet): NT$12 million (and below)
  • NG Status (Will Convert to Standard Review): Exceeding NT$12 million
• Check Point: Layout Alteration
  • Eligible Scope (Must Meet): NOAlteration or addition of “partition walls”
  • NG Status (Will Convert to Standard Review): YESDemolition or addition of any partition wall
• Check Point: Bathroom/Kitchen
  • Eligible Scope (Must Meet): NOAddition or alteration of “bathrooms/kitchens”
  • NG Status (Will Convert to Standard Review): YESAdding a bathroom within a bedroom
• Check Point: Certifying Party (Technique)
  • Eligible Scope (Must Meet): Can be applied for by a “licensed renovation contractor”
  • NG Status (Will Convert to Standard Review): (Not Applicable)

The Future of New Taipei City’s Simplified Renovation: A Choice Between “Efficiency” and “Legality”

New Taipei City’s “Simplified Renovation” SOP represents the local government’s best effort to balance “regulatory safety” with “convenient efficiency.” It precisely offers a legal, low-cost, and highly efficient “fast-track” path for the vast majority of “low-risk” residential renovation projects.

Will you choose to cut corners and gamble on the legal risks of “exemption from application,” exposing yourself to the threat of complaints and forced work stoppage? Or will you embrace these “convenient” regulations, invest a reasonable cost, and obtain a secure, legal “permit” for your home through the “Simplified Renovation” SOP? Ultimately, this is a choice between “chance” and “protection.”