What is set in stone in the building permit application?

Hello everyone,

we are interested in what aspects of the draft become "set in stone" in the building application.

Background:
We had a draft drawn up by an architect. The draft was then transferred by a building planning office and from that the building application was created. The problem is that some details no longer fit. The planning office says that this is not relevant for the building application and that these details could be considered during construction. We just have to stay within the specifications of the development plan. In other words, if we change the floor heights, that is okay as long as the total height remains the same or does not exceed the permissible total height. The windows are not exactly aligned in the building application, but that would not be a problem either. If they are offset by a few centimeters, or made larger, that fits. Just not turning a 1m window into a 3m window.

So how is it now? Should we be meticulous about the details in the building application, or is the draft in the building application really rough, as long as we adhere to the development plan?

We would be very happy about your assessment :-)

Thank you, CK

I would be picky about that! We only submitted the building application once everything fit. Why change it afterwards? It doesn't make any sense – there must be a plan anyway that shows everything exactly as it should be executed.

And if the building application and execution planning differ, mistakes are bound to happen!

I would try to incorporate all changes at once.

1. There will certainly still be changes during execution anyway, and if later someone really takes a closer look it’s better if there aren’t 1000 differences between the building application and reality. There are also unpleasant neighbors who are just waiting for such a template.

2. There is a risk that afterwards it will be said: "If you had told us that earlier, we can’t change it now, the material has already been ordered, the structural calculations have already been done, etc. or we can gladly change it, but that now costs money.

PS. I know you don’t feel comfortable... overturning the finished planning again, but that simply doesn’t help and the builder planner already gets enough money for it, so please let him make the window the way it’s supposed to be!

The answer to your question is a clear yes and no. If a window were to shift a few centimeters, no one would actually care. A pragmatic approach.

However, if you change essential things like the floor height, I would personally ALWAYS fill out the building application with the correct data and not start building on a whim. Otherwise, you wouldn’t need to submit a plan at all if you stay within the specifications of the development plan anyway ;-)

Should we be meticulous about the details in the building application, or is the design in the building application really roughly speaking, as long as we adhere to the development plan?

If you only make a building notification according to §64 HBO, you can IMHO dispense with the notification of all changes conforming to the development plan. Although this is not entirely correct, since the designer is responsible for compliance with all building regulations and the authorities do not have to check or approve anything, it is quite justifiable. In the building permit procedure according to §65 HBO, I agree with the opinions of the previous speakers.

The windows are not exactly on the same line in the BA, but that would not be a problem either. If they are shifted by a few centimeters or are larger, that's fine. Just not turning a 1m window into a 3m window.

That’s how it was explained to us as well.
In our case, a window was misplaced. It was then corrected on the plans for the building application with a ballpoint pen as a freehand drawing. It was clear what was meant.