Building: Administrative offenses

A wide range of regulations must be observed when constructing, erecting, modifying, changing the use of, demolishing, or removing structures.

Anyone who violates building code regulations—whether intentionally or through negligence—is committing an administrative offense. In addition, many legal provisions of what is known as “ancillary building law” contain separate provisions regarding administrative offenses.
For example, a person commits an administrative offense if they

• violates an enforceable written order from the building authority (for example, to suspend work or remove structures)
• constructs, alters, or uses structures (buildings) without the required building permit or in violation of it, or demolishes them without the required notifications and structural engineering documentation
• begins carrying out a construction project that is exempt from approval before the expiration of 3 weeks following the confirmed date of receipt of the documents
• begins construction without having obtained the (required) building permit and without having submitted the technical documentation and the notice of commencement of construction to the building authority, and furthermore resists the measures taken by the building inspectorate (requests and reporting obligations)
• fails to submit the notice of commencement of construction or fails to submit it by the deadline
• Labels construction products with the Ü mark without meeting the requirements for doing so
• Construction products without the Ü mark were used
• Uses design types that do not have a general building authority approval, a general building authority test certificate, or case-by-case approval
• as a building owner, designer, contractor, construction manager, or their representative, fails to fulfill their legal obligations
• knowingly provides false information or submits false plans or documents in order to obtain or prevent an official decision (such as a building permit or a removal order)

It is therefore recommended that, in cases of doubt, you contact the relevant building authority or the municipality before carrying out any work subject to building codes.