Apartment renovation in Riga - in all 58 neighbourhoods

Centrs, Avoti and Brasa: pre-war masonry tenement buildings

The historic centre and the neighbourhoods near it are dominated by pre-war masonry tenement buildings. In such buildings the floor slabs are mostly wooden, the ceilings are high, the windows are of non-standard sizes, and without reconstruction the building has no lift. For a renovation this means that a typical job in pre-war buildings is restoring floors and ceilings.

In the protection zone of the historic centre of Riga, replacing windows and glazing loggias in buildings of lower value is allowed only without other facade work. If windows are in your renovation plan, first find out the status of the building. More on this type of housing on the pages apartment renovation in Centrs and apartment renovation in Avoti, and on the building type itself on the page pre-war building renovation.

Wooden tenement buildings in Āgenskalns and Čiekurkalns

Āgenskalns has around 600 wooden buildings, and in 1913 Čiekurkalns was a neighbourhood with 802 residential buildings, mainly wooden. In a wooden tenement building a typical job is restoring floors, walls and wiring, because the buildings are old and often have wooden floor slabs. See apartment renovation in Āgenskalns and wooden house renovation.

Micro-districts: the series determines what can be changed

Many apartments in Riga are in series buildings, and the series differ exactly where it matters for a renovation. Public sources write that in the 602 series all the internal walls are usually load-bearing, while in the 103 series the partitions are aerated concrete or expanded clay concrete panels and are non-load-bearing; for each apartment this is checked against the building design. The 464 series is five-storey buildings with reinforced concrete panels and gypsum concrete partitions.

For multi-storey buildings of the 103, 104, 119, 464, 467 and 602 series, the Riga regulations have standard sketches for glazing loggias; if they are used, a building design is not needed. In the Altum programme, the residents of the building at Varavīksnes gatve 12 agreed on renovating the whole building, including replacing radiators and risers. If a similar project is being prepared in your building, a bathroom renovation is worth coordinating with the building's work schedule. Panel neighbourhoods: apartment renovation in Purvciems, apartment renovation in Imanta, apartment renovation in Ķengarags; an overview of the series is on the page renovation by series.

New-build projects and detached-house neighbourhoods

In new-build projects an apartment can be bought with a grey or white finish, and then the renovation is completing the finish: floors, tiles, walls and installing the plumbing. What exactly has been built is shown in the handover documents, so in the request state what has already been built. See new-build apartment fit-out and apartment renovation in Zolitūde.

In Mežaparks, Berģi and Bieriņi the housing is dominated by detached houses. In a detached house a renovation can affect the whole house: the bathroom, kitchen, floors and sometimes extending the living area. In Riga, for buildings older than 50 years that are not state-protected, the City Development Department can determine the cultural and historical value and the permitted action when it examines a construction intention. See apartment renovation in Mežaparks and private house renovation.

Replanning in Riga: where to submit the documents

Approval of reconstruction in Riga is handled by the City Development Department (Pilsētas attīstības departaments) of the Riga City Municipality, which on 1 September 2021 took over the functions of the former Riga City Building Board. Documents are submitted in the Construction Information System (BIS). According to the Riga municipality, to demolish a non-load-bearing wall a certified architect prepares a plan and a construction notice is submitted in the BIS. An opening in a load-bearing wall needs an architect and a structural engineer, an explanatory memorandum and the consent of more than half of the apartment owners.

Since December 2025 the Architecture Department has been checking notices more closely and cancelling those that do not comply. If your plan includes a wall or an opening, write that in the request; see also approval of replanning.

Renovation noise: what is set in Riga

In neither national nor Riga regulations are fixed renovation hours set. A general principle applies: disturbing a person's peace can bring a warning or a fine of up to 100 fine units (up to €500). The Riga municipal police explain that everyday household noise is usually not an offence. House rules can be adopted by the apartment owners' association, so before demolition ask the building manager whether your building has set renovation hours. More: renovation hours.

Prices for apartment renovation in Riga

Cosmetic renovation: from €100/m² of apartment area. Full renovation: from €280/m² of apartment area. Turnkey renovation: from €600/m². Bathroom renovation (all work): from €3,000. Prices are for labour. Materials are calculated separately in the estimate.

Example: a 2-room apartment of 50 m², cosmetic renovation: 50 × €100 = from €5,000 (labour). The same apartment as a full renovation: 50 × €280 = from €14,000 (labour). The total depends on the area and number of rooms, the condition of the walls, floors and ceilings, whether the wiring, pipes and risers are changed, and the chosen finish. An exact estimate can be made after seeing the apartment. All prices: renovation prices.

Work requested in Riga apartments

• Full renovation in Riga: demolition down to the structure, new cables and pipes, screed and finishing.
• Cosmetic renovation in Riga: walls, ceilings, floor covering and doors.
• Bathroom renovation in Riga: waterproofing, tiles and installing the plumbing.
• Riser replacement in Riga: the section in the apartment, agreed with the building manager.
• Turnkey renovation in Riga: all the work in one order.