Simplified building permit procedure

The simplified procedure is used for all construction projects that:

• are not special buildings
• do not require planning permission and
• are not subject to an exemption from approval.

In the case of building projects that are subject to the exemption from approval, the municipality can declare that a simplified building permit procedure should be carried out. The client can request that the simplified building permit procedure be carried out.

In contrast to the full procedure, the scope of the building supervisory authority's review is significantly reduced in the simplified building permit procedure.

The subject of the examination is

• the compatibility of the project with building planning law
• Deviations, exceptions or exemptions applied for in accordance with § 73 HBO
• other regulations under public law insofar as the building permit eliminates or replaces a decision under these regulations

The building owner is responsible for ensuring that public law regulations that are not examined in the simplified building permit procedure are also complied with. In individual cases, a deviation, exception or exemption from public law regulations that do not need to be checked must also be applied for. In the event of a breach of these regulations, the building permit authority can stop the construction or have what has already been built demolished.

The building permit expires if you do not start construction work within 3 years of the permit being granted or if construction work has been interrupted for one year after this period. The period can be extended by up to 2 years in each case, even several times, with a written application.

In addition to the building application, the documents required for the assessment of the project and the processing of the building application (e.g. site plan, extract from the official real estate map, building description, construction drawings, etc.) must be submitted to the lower building supervisory authority in analog/digital form.

The documents to be submitted can be found in the Hessian Building Submission Decree.

The structural engineering certificates must be submitted to the building inspectorate prior to the execution of the respective construction phases, the building documents not subject to mandatory inspection prior to the start of construction.

The amount of the fees is determined on the basis of the shell construction costs of the building. A minimum of 7 euros is set per 1,000 euros of shell construction costs. The respective local authorities may set different fees in their bylaws.

The duration of the procedure depends on the individual case, in particular on which agencies need to be involved. As a rule, the procedure takes a maximum of 3 months. The procedure can only be extended by 2 months if there are special circumstances. The application is deemed to have been approved if no decision has been made within this period.

The duration of the procedure depends on the individual case, including which agencies need to be involved. As a rule, the procedure takes a maximum of 3 months. The procedure can only be extended by 2 months if there are special circumstances.
The building application is deemed to have been approved if no decision has been made within this period.