Fee notice for building application

The "state" does not hold out its hand, the municipality charges a fee.
Since not everyone is privileged to be able or willing to build, it is also completely fine that the resulting administrative and infrastructure costs are not entirely passed on to the public but rather that the builder himself bears a part of them.
Regarding the amount of the fees, I assume more of a cost recovery than a profit for the municipality.

Or more clearly:
It would be outrageous if a taxpayer whose income is not enough to build a house had to co-finance your building application through their taxes.

For me, the district office is the state.
So you want to tell me that a simple building application costs €3000?
Calculate €70 per working hour, then that would be 43 hours someone would have to work on it.
I absolutely don’t believe that; I estimate that no one spent more than 10 hours on it (generously estimated).

Calculate 70€ per working hour, then it would be 43 hours someone would have to work on it.

Obviously, you do not know the difference between wage and full costs.

Obviously, you do not know the difference between labor costs and total costs.

Then please enlighten me on how you see the calculation.

The "state" does not hold out its hand, the municipality charges a fee. Since not everyone is privileged enough to be able or willing to build, it is also perfectly fine that the resulting administrative and infrastructure costs are not completely shifted to the general public, but that the builder himself bears a part of them. Regarding the amount of the fees, I assume more of a cost coverage than a profit for the municipality. Or more clearly: It would be outrageous if a taxpayer whose income is not enough to build a house had to co-finance your building application through their taxes.

Basically, you are right, and builders should at least pay cost-covering fees. But processing a building application does not require more or less work whether I build for €100,000 or for €1 million, whether I build 100 sqm or 1000 sqm. At least not to such an extent. Accordingly, these fees are set according to the principle that those who spend a lot must also give a lot to the state (whether municipality, district, or whoever). This is the case with all fees established by the state, whether notary fees, land registry fees, etc. One can consider this acceptable, but one does not have to.

Basically, you are right and builders should pay at least cost-covering fees. But the processing of a building application does not require more or less work whether I build for €100,000 or for €1 million, whether I build 100 sqm or 1,000 sqm. At least not to a significantly greater or lesser extent. In this respect, these fees are set according to the principle that whoever spends a lot must also give a lot to the state (be it the municipality, district, or whoever). This is true for all fees set by the state, whether notary fees, land registry fees, etc. One can consider it okay, but one doesn't have to.

I agree with you on that.

Basically, you are right, and builders should definitely pay at least cost-covering fees. But the processing of a building application does not require more or less work whether I build for €100,000 or for €1 million, whether I build 100 sqm or 1000 sqm. At least not significantly more or less. In this respect, these fees are set according to the principle that those who spend a lot must also give a lot to the state (whether it be the municipality, district, or whoever). This is true of all fees set by the state, whether notary fees, land registry fees, etc.

One can consider it okay, but one does not have to.

One must not forget that not only the work of the building authority is included here but also that of the lower water protection authority, possibly the lower nature conservation authority, etc. If the price bothers you here, then I will give a nice example from my own experience (a few months old).

Conversion of a forest plot into a building plot (inner area; almost only single-family houses around it).
1. Replacement planting for the conversion of the property. It does not matter whether you leave all the trees standing or cut them all down. The price is the same. For us, about €10,500.
2. Security deposit in case the first trees in the replacement planting area do not grow: €4,800 (you probably will never see this again).
3. Processing of the conversion by the forestry authority: €2,400.

We are at almost €18,000 without anything happening on the property...