Neighborhood matters (building law)

A construction project may affect the properties adjacent to the building lot. For this reason, the Hessian Building Code, the German Building Code, and the Land Use Ordinance contain various provisions that also serve to protect neighbors.

These include, for example, the establishment of a zoning plan specifying permissible building uses by designating building zones, as well as the boundary setbacks for buildings and outbuildings required under building regulations. In addition, there are regulations that grant neighbors a special legal status in the building permit process. For example, in certain cases, they may inspect the building file.

In addition to this public law aspect, there is also the Hessian Neighbor Law Act, which falls under civil law. Building inspection authorities are not authorized to review civil law claims or provide legal advice on such matters.

To obtain specific legal information or access to case files, a legitimate interest must be demonstrated.

This may include:

• Proof of ownership (land registry extract)
• Notarized purchase agreement
• Extract from the owner registry of the cadastral map

Note: Tenants generally do not have a legitimate interest