Change of use - expansion of an agricultural barn

Hi, I have been thinking for some time about converting part of our barn into an apartment. (Location: Upper Franconia - Bavaria)

The following can be said about the building: After two relatively short successive devastating fires, the barn was built in the mid-1970s as a functional and structural unit with a cow/pig stable (which in turn is directly structurally connected to the parental/grandparental residential house) and was used as a storage space for litter and feed grain as well as a shelter for agricultural machinery. After the fire, a new plan was created for the entire building, which was largely implemented, although not with one hundred percent accuracy. At that time, there was very great time pressure. Over the years, significant changes in the focus of our operation (such as the abandonment of dairy farming) also brought about corresponding structural changes. Since animal husbandry has steadily decreased since around the mid-1990s and was completely abandoned around 2007, the stables and storage rooms are now empty or available.

I now want to convert part of the barn into an apartment for myself. This should be connected to the parental apartment, but an additional direct entrance should be created. The entire barn would not be affected by the change of use (the machinery shelter is to be preserved).

However, in order to be able to decide whether my project is profitable and generally feasible for me or even realizable by me, I am missing some information, which I hope to get here:

[*]What fees and taxes are to be expected when transferring from agricultural to private use? According to what is the respective concrete amount of these charges determined (square meters? original construction cost? flat rate? ...)? [*]Is a building plan to be submitted for the application for the change of use? If yes, of which state (the previous or the hopefully future)? [*]Is it true that residential extensions are treated differently under building law than the construction of a separate apartment? If yes, how are the two legally distinguished, i.e., what criteria must be met for it to be considered a residential extension? [*]Under what circumstances is it necessary to have a new building plan drawn up? [*]Under what circumstances is a (tectonic) plan necessary for the expansion of the apartment (besides the change of use application)? [*]Is it correct that façade openings for windows and doors are exempt from approval under the BayBO? [*]Where are the responsibilities, i.e., who decides on the success or failure of a change of use? [*]What experiences (of any kind) have you had with similar projects?

Many thanks in advance! Best regards Tom PS: I am really very grateful for any kind of answer—as long as it is constructive!

Hello,

Where do the responsibilities lie, i.e. who decides on the wellbeing or detriment of a change of use.

Before you continue to deal with this topic, you should visit the building authority/agricultural chamber responsible for you, bring your plans - both in paper and in your mind - and first of all find out if and under what conditions you are allowed to build on or extend.

I would not be surprised if the so-called "agricultural old tenant regulation" applies to this project. In this case, you are by no means building what you have in mind or want; more authorities are involved than you will like. Authorities pay special attention to expansions of this kind - at least in NRW according to my experience. I have accompanied projects here that were ultimately doomed to fail and others where I shook my head because the building authority objected to the size of the bathroom; the latter being the lesser evil

Best regards

Hi,
sounds very much like an outdoor area. Residential construction is not so easily possible there, if at all, then only with complete building permit documents.

Regards

sounds very much like an outdoor area.

But it is not. You could hardly be more central in the town...

Are there any findings on the subject of barn conversion??? For me, this is also a topic and I am still at the very beginning, so the preliminary application has been submitted but with the first figures that were thrown at me regarding architect and planner and that the building application costs at least 1000€, I started to feel very differently... Looking for experience (preferably for Sachsen, but also all others!!! ...Thank you

Oh, our barn is only used for storage, so no agricultural use, it is just there