Building application or building notification

Good morning everyone,

we are about to get started soon and now we face the question of whether to submit a building application or file a building notification. The plot is in a new development area; there is therefore a development plan.

Our architect was in the first conversation in favor of a building application because that would put us on the safe side. Other parties, including the municipality, have said that a building notification is perfectly sufficient; one just has to ensure that all requirements from the development plan are complied with.

We have no deviations from the development plan, or rather our preliminary inquiry about whether we may place our carport closer than 5m to the street was already rejected with the words that they do not allow any exceptions.

What do you think speaks in favor of one or the other?

Regards, teutates

The architect is probably afraid. In the [Genehmigungsfreienverfahren], the architect is liable to ensure that everything fits.

Just do the simplified building permit, it only takes 4 weeks, but you have the chance to submit additional documents if something is not in order. However, you must also fully comply with the development plan there.

What speaks in your view for one or the other?

The building notification generally proceeds significantly faster. However, in NRW this procedure will be abolished again at the end of the year as it has not proven itself in practice. Many architects shy away from the risk. And there are said to have been architects who were no longer reachable for anyone in case of problems. If you get along well with your architect, leave the decision to him.

What does significantly faster mean? 4 weeks construction notification procedure and 4 weeks simplified building permit.

What does significantly faster mean, 4 weeks building notification process and 4 weeks simplified building permit.

There are probably differences, we submitted the building notification together with the neighbors' signatures (the municipality wanted it that way). One day later we received the notification that we could start.

The costs are also significantly lower.