Open floor plan, one or two residential units?

Good day everyone,

after being a silent reader for some time, I now need your help.

We are interested in a plot of land that is 916 m² in size.

On this plot, we want to build a single-family house with two residential units on it. To be more precise, it should be a 1 ½-story house with a living area of about 140 m², to which a bungalow with about 90 m² of living space will be attached on one side (so they share one house wall). Both houses will have their own entrance.

The building authority told me that only one residential unit is allowed on the plot because it is under 1000m² (see attachment excerpt from development plan point 3.4).

I am of the opinion that up to three residential units can be built on the plot since an open construction method is provided for (see point 3.6).

What do you experts think about this? During the conversation with the authority, I rather had the feeling that he just wanted to get rid of me.

Thank you for your help and have a nice Sunday.

3.4 it does say... if it becomes a detached house it is one residential unit. Only if you plan it as a semi-detached house (however you do that) can you have one residential unit per half.

It says it in 3.4... if it becomes a single house, it is one residential unit. Only if you plan it as a semi-detached house (however one does that) can you have one residential unit per half.

Thank you for the quick reply. But wouldn't that contradict 3.6 where it says that up to 3 residential units are allowed in open construction?

Good morning,

We are interested in a plot of land that is 916 m² in size.

"Small" is a good joke for us Rhinelanders

The building authority told me that only one residential unit is allowed on the plot because it is under 1000m² (see attachment excerpt from the development plan point 3.4)

That is also correct; the development plan specifies it this way. Furthermore, you are not allowed to build a one-story house – which can mathematically be designed as a two-story house – on the one hand, and as an extension a genuine one-story building – i.e., with a flat roof.

For understanding: open development means nothing other than that you have to build with a side distance. However, you can still build 2 residential units, but "through the back door." This is called: separated according to WEG.

My recommendation: if you like the plot, find a competent architect and discuss the building possibilities with him/her. As I read the development plan, some of the plots are also on slopes; here a clever planner is indispensable anyway.

Rhineland greetings

I could imagine that this only applies if you want to build a "Hausgruppe" - then regardless of whether you have at least 900 sqm. But I'm not an expert in the field. I would just explain this to the building authority... in person, not by letter or anything, and see what they tell you. Or as the construction expert says, get competent help.

Read through the development plan; there is no authority of interpretation there

Rhenish greetings