Development plan

Before plans are made to build on a plot of land, you should clarify whether a development plan exists for the plot or, if applicable, what stipulations are made in this development plan. If there is no development plan, the permissibility of building projects in outdoor areas and unplanned inner areas is governed by the German Building Code (BauGB).

The development plan stipulates in a legally binding manner which buildings and other facilities are permitted on a property.

A qualified development plan specifies at least the following

• the type of building use (e.g. residential, mixed, commercial area),
• the extent of building use (e.g. number of storeys and floor area, height, number of full storeys),
• the area of the property that can be built on (e.g. building lines, building boundaries),
• the local traffic areas.