Applying for a building permit

As the property owner, you must submit the building permit application along with the required construction documents to the building authority in the jurisdiction where the property is located.

The building authority checks whether the construction documents are complete. If the building permit application cannot be processed due to missing documents, the authority may reject it. Individual construction documents may be requested at a later date.

Once the building application documents are complete, the building authority (in consultation with the municipality and relevant specialized departments) reviews whether any public law regulations preclude the construction project. Once all comments have been received and the building application has been reviewed, the building authority will notify you of its decision digitally via the building portal or in writing:

• the building permit is granted,
• granted only subject to certain requirements and conditions, or
• The building permit application is denied.

All required documents and forms have been submitted either entirely digitally via the construction portal or in hard copy. There are no public law regulations that would prevent the project from proceeding.

• Building documents (in digital format on the construction portal or in hard copy) that are relevant to the evaluation of the respective project
• Usually a property plan or an excerpt from the cadastral map
• Project Description
• The specific documentation required depends on the project in question

• Building and Housing - Forms

  (Hesse Ministry of Economic Affairs, Energy, Transportation, and Regional Development)

The amount of the fees is based on the cost of the building’s shell. Local municipalities may, by ordinance, set fees that differ from those listed in the fee schedule of the Administrative Costs Regulation. Please contact the building inspection authority responsible for your area for more information.

• § 2 Hessian Building Code (HBO): Definitions
• § 57 Hessian Building Code (HBO): Design Author, Authorization to Submit Building Plans
• § 66 of the Hessian Building Code (HBO): Building Permit Procedures
• § 67 Hessian Building Code (HBO)
• § 69 Hessian Building Code (HBO): Building Permit Application, Construction Documents
• § 71 Hessian Building Code (HBO): Neighborhood Participation
• § 75 of the Hessian Building Code (HBO): Start of Construction

An appeal may be filed against the agency's decision within one month of its notification.

Fuel-burning systems may not be put into operation until an expert in energy-generating systems (such as an authorized chimney sweep) has certified that they are safe to use and that exhaust gases are being properly vented.
 

• For the construction, installation, attachment, and modification, as well as changes in use
• For special construction projects (such as high-rise buildings), the building permit is issued through the standard building permit process.
• Application: Submit the building permit application along with the required supporting documents digitally via the building portal or in hard copy.
• Construction will not begin until the building permit has been issued
• A construction site sign must be visible from the public right-of-way.
• A building permit expires if construction has not begun within 5 years of the permit being issued, or if construction has been suspended for two years after that period.
• The deadline may be extended by up to 2 years at a time upon request.
• Responsible authority: lower-level building authority.