Building control

All structures falling within the scope of the Hessian Building Code must be planned, constructed, modified, and maintained in such a way that public safety and order—in particular, human life, health, or the natural resources essential to life—are not endangered.
This obligation generally rests, in the first instance, with the owner or user of the property or facility.

The other “parties involved in construction”—such as planners, construction managers, contractors, and those authorized to issue certifications or experts—also have various monitoring obligations during the planning and construction phases.
Those authorized to issue certifications and experts must issue the relevant certifications or certificates and submit them to the building inspection authority.

The building inspection authority verifies compliance with public law regulations and requirements, as well as the fulfillment of the obligations of those involved in the construction, at its own discretion, depending on the degree of difficulty and the significance of the facility. For special structures, the building permit typically mandates periodic safety inspections at specified intervals, unless such inspections are already required by special building regulations.

Inspections The building inspection authority’s responsibilities also
include identifying illegal construction activities and uses—that is, measures for which the required building permit has not been applied for or has not yet been granted. Before the building inspection authority takes enforcement action, it will first request construction documents in order to verify the substantive admissibility of the project. This does not apply in cases of imminent danger.
These “unauthorized structures” are identified based on the authority’s own investigations, as well as on reports from other agencies, authorities, or neighbors.