Is balcony extrapolation really illegal? See the regulatory red lines clearly at once
When many people buy a house or renovate an old house, their first thought is to "extend the balcony to expand the space." But you know what? According to the regulations of the Construction Administration of the Ministry of the Interior, any addition to a building without applying for permission is an illegal construction, and balcony extension is one of the most common types of illegal construction.
Why is the balcony extrapolation considered illegal construction?
From a legal perspective, the criteria for determining illegal construction of balconies are very clear. Taiwan's building regulations have so-called floor area ratio and building coverage ratio restrictions. Balconies are not included in the floor area ratio within a certain proportion. When you enclose the balcony that does not count and turn it into a substantial indoor space, it is equivalent to increasing the indoor volume in disguise, which constitutes an illegal construction.
Even if an agent tells you that "existing illegal construction before 1984 is subject to delayed demolition," this does not mean it is legal. Delayed demolition is just a matter of the local government putting it at the end of the demolition order due to lack of manpower. As long as there are reports from neighbors or a police accident occurs, there is still the risk of being forced to demolish at any time.
Structural safety risk: Cantilever version load-bearing problem
The deeper problem lies in structural safety. Most balconies are of cantilever design, with only one end connected to the main structure, and their load-bearing capacity is much lower than that of the indoor floor. When you extend the balcony and add heavy aluminum windows, or even place bookcases, sofas or bathtubs, in the long run it will cause cracks at the roots of the balcony, and in severe cases, there may even be a risk of collapse.
Which renovation projects require permission?
According to the "Regulations on the Management of Interior Decoration of Buildings", the following projects must apply for an interior decoration permit:
- Moving walls (change in layout): Removing or adding partition walls, changing two rooms into three rooms, etc.
- Moving roof (ceiling work) Process): New ceiling construction (involving fire protection regulations)
- Electricity (water and electricity system adjustment): Changes or new installations of large-scale water and electricity pipelines
Simple judgment principle: In principle, any changes in spatial pattern, ceiling construction, or water and electricity system adjustments need to be submitted for review.
Three major changes in the new decoration system in 2026
1. Review before work:Changes in layout must first obtain a construction permit before starting construction
2. Industry operators bear responsibility:The responsibility for violations is transferred to the interior decoration industry and construction units
3. Contract transparency:The government is developing a standardized contract for interior decoration, which requires a contract review period of at least 5 days and a project warranty of at least 1 year.
How much is the penalty for illegal decoration?
According to Article 95-1 of the "Construction Act", if construction is carried out without applying in accordance with the regulations, the owner, user and construction unit may be fined a fine of not less than NT$60,000 and not more than NT$300,000, and the penalties can be consecutive. In addition to fines, you may also face risks such as forced shutdown of the project, reports from neighbors, and subsequent civil litigation and disputes.
Legitimate space amplification alternative
Rather than risking the extrapolation of the balcony, the designer suggested the "Visually extended landscape balcony internalization" solution:
- Do not demolish the exterior wall, nor add windows on the outside of the balcony
- Elevate the balcony floor and lay outdoor wooden floors or non-slip tiles in the same color as the living room
- Replace the heavy floor-to-ceiling aluminum doors with translucent glass sliding doors with extremely narrow frames
This approach uses visual illusion psychology. When the brain determines that the indoor and outdoor floor materials are continuous and the line of sight is not cut off by thick window frames, it will automatically supplement the outdoor balcony area as part of the indoor space. At the same time, it is completely legal and retains the buffering and heat dissipation function of the balcony.
Application conditions for simple interior decoration permit
If your decoration meets the following conditions, you can apply for a simple interior decoration permit, and the process is faster:
- The purpose after decoration is "residential"
- Buildings with less than 10 floors
- The decoration area is less than 300 square meters (about 90 square meters)
- Non-high-rise buildings (height less than 50 meters or above 16 floors)
The simple permit fee is about 60,000 to 90,000 yuan, including the production of illustrations, architect visa and submission fees.
Three certificates to check before starting construction
In order to protect your own rights and interests, the operator should be required to produce before starting construction:
- Interior decoration industry registration certificate — Confirm that the operator has legal qualifications
- Interior decoration construction permit — Confirm that the project has passed the review and can start construction legally
- Professional and technical personnel registration certificate — Make sure the person in charge on site has a license
These three licenses are the most basic line of defense for you to protect yourself.
Conclusion: Regulations are a safety net to protect homeowners
The core logic of the 2026 new decoration system is not to make decoration more difficult, but to make the attribution of responsibilities clearer, contract protection more complete, and illegal operators more difficult to survive. For homeowners, the most pragmatic way to respond is to plan in advance according to new standards, choose a design company with legal qualifications and integration capabilities, and confirm the review period and warranty terms when signing the contract. Renovation is a big deal, and it’s much easier to do it once than to fix it later.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs' latest "Regulations on Consumer Electrical Equipment Installation" and the key points of electricity safety in old houses
Due to the popularity of high-power household appliances (such as air fryers, microwave ovens, dishwashers, instantaneous electric water heaters, and IH furnaces) in recent years, the Energy Administration of the Ministry of Economic Affairs has revised the "Regulations on Consumer Electrical Equipment Installation" many times to strictly require the diversion and protection mechanisms of residential electricity circuits. Statistics show that more than 30% of building fires in Taiwan are caused by electrical factors, among which "old wire insulation deteriorates and short circuits", "socket contacts are oxidized and loose, poor contact" and "non-fuse switch (NFB) overloaded and failed to trip" are the three main fatal causes.
Old apartments in Shuangbei that are more than 30 years old have a total original designed power capacity of only 30A to 40A, and several rooms often share the same 1.6mm or 2.0mm circuit. In the modern standard safety configuration, kitchen electrical cabinets, bathroom equipment, and air-conditioning and heating machines must all be equipped with 5.5mm² dedicated circuits (single circuit and single socket). It is recommended that the main switch box be upgraded to a busbar (Busbar) integrated distribution board, and the total amperage is increased to 75A or 100A (a qualified electrical appliance contractor needs to be entrusted to Taipower to review the additional power capacity).
Residential electricity self-test and regular inspection checklist
- Appearance and temperature of the socket: Touch the outer cover of the commonly used socket lightly with the back of your hand. If it feels lukewarm or if you find that the plastic socket is yellowed and charred, or the plug is loose and shaking after being plugged in, it means that the internal copper plate clamping force is exhausted or the contact resistance is too high, and you should immediately cut off the power and replace it.
- Regular testing of leakage circuit breakers (ELCB): For leakage circuit breakers in humid places such as balconies, bathrooms, and kitchen sinks, regulations require that the "TEST button" on the switch be pressed once every 1 to 3 months to confirm that it can automatically trip and cut off the power supply instantly.
- Serial connection and overloading of extension cords are strictly prohibited: Extension cords should be purchased with 2.0mm thick wire diameter products that have CNS certification and automatic overload power-off protection. Do not share the same extension cord with high energy-consuming appliances to ensure zero hidden danger to life and property at home.
