Following a proposal by Brussels MP Pascal Smet (Vooruit.brussels), the Brussels Parliament today amended the ban on terrace heaters. Gas-powered devices will be banned, but electric terrace heating will still be permitted. This compromise addresses the concerns of Brussels' hospitality sector.
Electric patio heaters
The regional plan for energy, climate and waste was voted on today in the plenary session of the Brussels Parliament. The most striking measure in the text is the ban on terrace heaters for Brussels' hospitality sector. Previously, the Environment Committee approved a postponement of this until June 2026.
Parliament amended the text at the last minute: only gas-powered patio heaters will be banned. This adjustment means that electric heating devices can still be used after June 2026. The amendment was submitted by Vooruit.brussels and MR and received the support of PTB-PVDA, Team Fouad Ahidar and Open VLD.
Query from the Brussels hospitality sector
Earlier, the Brussels Horeca Federation announced that they were also not in favour of a total ban on terrace heaters.
According to figures from the Hospitality Federation, between 10 and 15 per cent of Brussels’ hotels, cafés and restaurants have gas or electric patio heaters. In concrete terms, this amounts to between 700 and 1,000 establishments out of a total of 7,000 hospitality businesses.
At the instigation of Vooruit.brussels, their concerns were heard, and an alternative solution was found that everyone can agree on.
Shift to green energy: coherent policy is necessary
Vooruit.brussels and MR argued that the harmful effect of fossil fuels on the climate is undeniable. Therefore, it is important to ban gas-powered patio heaters. Even though the energy consumption of these patio heaters is negligible, it does send a symbolic signal. Electricity produced with renewable energy such as hydropower, wind or solar energy results in up to 490 times fewer greenhouse gas emissions. Just like the shift to electric cars, coherent policy is needed.
“We are drawing an analogy with the vehicle fleet. A shift is underway there from fossil fuels to electricity. The same must happen in the hospitality sector, if necessary supported by accompanying measures,” said Brussels MP and group leader Pascal Smet (Vooruit.brussels), who submitted the proposal.
Pascal Smet also added that, apart from in France, there are no universal bans on patio heaters anywhere in the world and that electric patio heaters are permitted everywhere.
If the hospitality industry is doing badly, then the city is doing badly.
A city is the interaction between people, buildings, and public space. The hospitality industry encourages people to go out, combat loneliness, and bring a city to life. It's also pleasant to be able to sit outside and stay warm. And fresh air is important for health anyway.
“Brussels has a great café culture. That needs to be preserved. If the hospitality sector is doing badly, the city is doing badly. And we want to avoid that at all costs! I am therefore pleased that Parliament has followed our proposal,” Pascal Smet concludes.