Building work in the canton of Vaud

The canton of Vaud stretches from the shores of Lake Geneva to the Jura and the Vaud Alps. Depending on where your property is, the work to plan is not the same: on the slopes above the lake, people readily talk about patios and facades, while at altitude it is roofing and insulation. This page gives some pointers to place your project and prepare a quote request.

Vaud’s buildings, from the lake to the Jura

The canton’s climate is not uniform. On the shores of Lake Geneva it is mild and the hillsides are steep: this affects earthworks, retaining walls, access and the siting of patios. Higher up, towards the Jura and the Vaud Alps, snow weighs on roofs, stresses timber frames, gutters and zinc work, and makes insulation decisive for winter comfort.

The housing stock mixes very different periods: village houses, town-centre buildings, hillside villas, more recent buildings on the outskirts. An older flat often calls for work on walls and ceilings, whereas a more recent building raises questions of energy, ventilation or fittings. An on-site assessment by the tradesperson remains the only reliable way to know what really needs doing.

Building permits and CAMAC in the canton of Vaud

For work that requires authorisation, the building permit is issued by the municipal authority of the commune. When cantonal departments must give their opinion, the file goes through the cantonal permit centre, CAMAC, before the communal decision.

In practice, it is often projects that change the volume or appearance of a building that raise the question: house extension, conservatory, swimming pool construction, garage and carport, house construction. An architect can put the file together and follow the procedure. But to know whether your specific project requires a permit, only one step is reliable: ask your commune’s building department, before signing anything.

Vaud energy: law, cantonal directorate and subsidies

The canton has a Vaud energy law, applied by the cantonal energy directorate. It matters to anyone considering changing a heating system, improving the building envelope or producing their own energy.

A cantonal subsidy programme exists. Its conditions, amounts and deadlines are not fixed: consult the relevant cantonal department to find out what applies to your case. A sensible rule: check before ordering the work whether a grant must be applied for beforehand, as it may become impossible to obtain once the site has started.

The projects most concerned are:

• thermal insulation of facades, attics or floors;
• replacing a heating system with a heat pump;
• solar panels on the roof;
• replacing windows and double glazing.

The detailed quote you receive from a professional will help you put together the subsidy application, but it is the authority that decides what can be funded.

Old towns and the Lavaux vineyard: heritage at stake

The canton has old towns and one exceptional site: the Lavaux vineyard, a World Heritage site. In these areas, the way you renovate a facade, replace a window or redo a roof may be regulated more strictly than elsewhere, notably as regards materials, colours or shapes.

If your property is old or located in a sensitive area, start by asking the commune or the relevant cantonal department which constraints apply. A facade renovation, a roof or a set of shutters and blinds may thus require prior approval. Better to know before the quote than after the order.

What work, depending on the Vaud region

Lake Geneva shore: La Côte and the Riviera

Between Nyon, Morges, Vevey and Montreux, homes are often on slopes or terraces, with a view of the lake. Requests revolve around apartment renovation, bathroom renovation, patios and outdoor landscaping. Retaining walls, earthworks and masonry take on importance because of the slope.

Lausanne and its surrounding area

In the city, many projects concern flats in apartment buildings: kitchen, bathroom, floors, painting, plasterwork. Most often, you have to deal with co-ownership, neighbours, access and working hours. In an apartment building, interior demolition or flooring also require thinking about noise and sound insulation between floors.

Northern Vaud and Yverdon-les-Bains

Around Yverdon-les-Bains, you find detached houses, villas and older buildings. Heating, roofing, insulation and heating engineer work are common there, as are outdoor projects: fencing and gates, gardener or asphalting.

Jura and the Vaud Alps

At altitude, snow is the central factor. Requests concern timber framing, roofing, zinc work, gutters and supplementary heating, for example a wood or pellet stove. The choice of materials and the way they are installed must take mountain winters into account: a local tradesperson knows these constraints.

The Vaud towns covered by this site

Each town has its own particularities in terms of buildings, co-ownership and communal rules. To refine your search, consult the page for your area:

• work in Lausanne
• work in Nyon
• work in Vevey
• work in Montreux
• work in Yverdon-les-Bains
• work in Morges

Requesting a quote for your Vaud work

SOS Travaux is a neutral matching service. It does not employ tradespeople and works with no named partner: your request is passed on to tradespeople and companies in the region, who contact you to prepare a free quote without obligation.

To make the offers comparable, describe your project carefully:

1. State the commune and the type of property: flat, house, co-owned building, commercial premises.
2. Specify the trade concerned and what you expect: replacement, new installation, restoration.
3. Mention any known constraints: floor without a lift, older building, protected area, landlord’s agreement if you are a tenant.
4. Attach what you have: photos, approximate dimensions, plans.
5. Say whether a subsidy or permit needs to be checked: the tradesperson can take it into account in their offer.

The price depends on the surface area, the condition of the substrate, the materials chosen, site access and the extent of demolition or preparation. That is why no figure can be given without a visit or a precise description: only the quote sets what you will pay.

When you are ready, requesting a quote takes a few minutes. You then compare the proposals received, and you remain free to accept none of them.