Exceeding the floor area ratio

Let's say I have built on 0.35 of the area without garage and yard, for example, and at the end I only add the yard and the garage. That way, I can reach a GFZ of 0.5, for example, without any problems, right? So I don’t just count the areas halfway, but I only add the areas at the end to then legally exceed the area of 0.4?

You count everything fully (because you have nothing only partially sealed) and in total you reach 340.5 (0.3742), which is less than 0.6 (0.4 + 50%). House 102.5 + garage 61 + terrace 50 = 213.5 (= 0.2346; remainder 150.5 = 0.1654). Yard 127 = 0.1396. Exceeding the floor area ratio 0.4 by 50% = effective floor area ratio 0.6. After deducting 0.2346 and 0.1396, 0.2258 remains (over 205 sqm!). How do you want to exceed that if it's really just a small garden house?

So I can come to a GFZ of e.g. 0.5

The floor area ratio always remains the same. You need a building permit for your project in Lower Saxony anyway. So why are you tearing your hair out?

The floor area ratio always remains the same.
You need a building permit for your project in Lower Saxony anyway. So why are you tearing your hair out?

According to the current status, I do not necessarily need a building permit. It is supposed to be a garden shed of about 26 m² with an adjacent canopy of 9 square meters, so a total of 35 square meters. Since 01.07.2025, we can build a garden house up to 75 cubic meters. Now, the garden house is not supposed to be only 2 m high. Therefore, I would reduce the garden house accordingly to stay below 75 cubic meters.

For this reason, I do not want to unnecessarily alarm the municipality.

The garden house is not intended to be used as a living room.

I have two other questions that you might be able to help with. Does the terrace canopy really count towards the cubic volume of the shed? Also, the garden house may not contain a fireplace. How does it work with a whirlpool with a fireplace? Unfortunately, I could not get a direct answer from the municipality on this either.

You calculate everything fully (because you have nothing only partially sealed) and come to a total of 340.5 (0.3742), which is less than 0.6 (0.4 + 50%). House 102.5 + Garage 61 + Terrace 50 = 213.5 (= 0.2346; remainder 150.5 = 0.1654). Courtyard 127 = 0.1396. Exceeding the floor area ratio 0.4 by 50% = effective floor area ratio 0.6. After deducting 0.2346 and 0.1396, 0.2258 remains (in sqm over 205!). How do you want to exceed that even more if it really is only a measured garden house?

If that is really the case, there are definitely no problems. I have deliberately remeasured all the built-up areas of my property to arrive at the total figure. Since the building application, we have already made some adjustments on the property (in fact, we have also already worked with a water-bound path surface on our fire pit). My initially given data on the FAR are current. Who knows what next year will bring, for example. If I have now once and for all clarified that I can still build, for example, 200 square meters, I don’t have to worry about the hut in the next projects.

In terms of the floor area ratio, there should be no problems with you, provided Blabla… I have already written that three times.

Since 01.07.2025, we can build a garden house up to 75 cubic meters.

Where does it say that? Let’s not die stupid. I only know the 40 cubic rule..

so a total of 35 square meters.

.. and the mentioned 35 sqm are well over 40 cubic meters.

Does the terrace roof really count towards the cubic amount of the hut?

Yes. Enclosed space. Your terrace is also counted as part of the house.

no fire pit

A fire pit is a fire pit, no matter what it is used for.

Appendix to Paragraph 60 of the NBauO. 75cbm are correct. Oh yes, porches are included in the 75cbm. Thus also including the roofing. That can also be read.