Digital building application procedure goes into implementation

The introduction of the digital building application process in Offenbach is nearing completion. Paul-Gerhard Weiß, Head of the Planning and Building Department, explains: "We will start the test phase in real operation in April. The first real building applications will then be processed using this new digital procedure. The aim of the test phase is to check the software and technology with real building applications in order to eliminate any errors and weaknesses. We are also checking how the processes and communication between the building inspectorate, building portal, client, drafters and other parties involved work during the ongoing process. These test procedures will then also result in actual building permits."

For the digitization of building permits, the city of Offenbach, like most Hessian building supervisory authorities, joined the ekom21 project in cooperation with the Hessian Ministry of Economics: The municipal service provider ekom21 provides a specialist procedure for processing digital building applications throughout Hesse. Last year, extensive preparations were completed in parallel with further digitization processes by the building supervisory authorities: These included numerous, highly complex and interrelated technical, legal and process-related requirements that had to be checked and implemented for the new digital procedure. This process with the technical service provider and ekom21 involved several city authorities and other bodies that have to be involved in building approval procedures.

Internal tests and simulations were successful, meaning that the procedures can now also be tested for functionality in live operation. To this end, the building inspectorate is working with selected architectural firms and clients for planned construction projects. Their applications will be processed and approved completely digitally for the first time using the new procedure. According to current planning, the test phase in live operation should come to an end after the summer. If everything works as planned, the digital building application process will be available to the public from the fall.

Another important component of digitalization at Offenbach's building inspectorate has also made considerable progress: the files for all properties in Offenbach are being digitalized so that digital file access is possible via a city cloud solution in the event of legitimate requests for inspection. Complete building files that have already been digitized can then be conveniently downloaded. "This major component will also make it much easier for building owners and planners to view the approval status and history of a property in future, whether for a change to the existing building, demolition and new construction or a change of use," explains Weiß. The Offenbach building inspectorate also already processes scaffolding applications and building load information (e.g. for property purchases) digitally.

Further information on inspecting files, either digitally or on site, is available on the city's internet portal: