Rules & Permits

01

AC and your building manager: consent, votes and what to prepare

Before installing an AC in a Latvian apartment building, inform your building manager and check their procedure — the external wall is common property, so apartment-owner agreement (50% + 1 votes under the Apartment Ownership Law) applies. Riga's largest manager RNP publishes its own AC guidance, and many HOAs have their own rules. Managers mainly want to see safe mounting, legal facade placement and correctly routed condensate.

02

F-gas certification: how to check your AC installer in the register

Refrigerant work on an AC — connecting, charging, leak-checking the lines — must be done by a person certified for work with refrigerants (F-gases), and Latvia's State Environmental Service (VVD) publishes a searchable public register of certified specialists. Checking takes a minute: search the installer's name or certificate number before signing. A company that hesitates to name its certified technician is telling you something.

03

Riga facade rules for AC outdoor units: when you need coordination

In Riga you need to coordinate an AC outdoor unit with the city (Būvvalde) when it goes on a facade visible from public outdoor space — and Riga offers a simplified procedure for exactly this. Outside the historic centre and its protection zone, a unit on an inner-courtyard facade or roof that is not visible from public space usually needs no submission. In the historic centre, heritage-board (NKMP) approval is required in addition.

04

AC in Riga's historic centre: NKMP approval, realistic placements

In the UNESCO-listed Riga historic centre and its protection zone, an AC outdoor unit on a facade needs approval from the National Heritage Board (NKMP) in addition to the city's coordination — and street-visible placement is rarely approved. The realistic paths are courtyard facades, concealed positions (behind balcony railings, in light wells), rooftop placements invisible from street level, or ductless indoor alternatives. Budget extra weeks and involve the heritage board early.

05

AC noise norms in Latvia: 30 dB(A) at night is the number that matters

Latvian noise limits for living rooms and bedrooms are 35 dB(A) by day and evening and 30 dB(A) at night (Cabinet Regulation No. 16, annex 4) — measured in the affected room, not at the unit. Outdoor AC units emit roughly 45–55 dB(A) at source, so placement, distance and anti-vibration mounting decide whether a unit is legal at night. On complaint, the Health Inspectorate (Veselības inspekcija) can measure.