Which building regulations make new constructions so expensive?

Hello everyone, the news has been full for years with the slogan "the many German building regulations make construction so expensive." In fact, one commission after another is probably trying to simplify them. Actually, leading and specialist media (at least as far as freely accessible online) largely stick to this statement without becoming specific. I have researched for some time - and could not find out which regulations exactly are the main cost drivers. Yes, I understand, Kfw55 still works with window ventilation, Kfw40 no longer - and of course that involves a big cost jump. But I couldn’t find out more, especially about what in the non-energy-related area makes construction so much more expensive. Does anyone of you know what regulations (energy-related and non-energy-related) have been added in the last 5 to 10 years and so drastically drive the costs? Thanks in advance and greetings from Pröter

That probably does not apply so much to single-family houses, but rather to the construction of multi-storey buildings. Although I would also be interested in knowing which regulation is completely nonsensical there. Fire protection? Escape routes? Insulation?

What major regulations do you have for single-family houses? Certainly development plans, state building codes... but the regulation to green a carport roof, the ban on gravel gardens, or the 9m boundary construction probably does not go beyond reasonable limits. Surely the Building Energy Act makes it more expensive... but would anyone really build a house today with an energy demand of 200 kWh/m²/a, an oil boiler, and an oil tank in the garden?
And otherwise? Structural engineering, DIN, VDE... none of that exists just for fun.

That probably does not apply so much to single-family houses, but rather in the construction of multi-story buildings.

Well, even with single-family houses, it is increasingly pointed out in the forum that one should expect 3000 to 4000 €/m² plus incidental construction costs – which certainly was not the case 10 years ago, as can be seen, among other things, from the Sachwertrichtlinien (in NRW from 2010). Of course, this figure does not differentiate according to the influences of regulations, materials and scarcity effects – however, all three are likely to play a role.

I would also be interested in which regulation is completely absurd. Fire protection? Escape routes? Insulation?

You speak my mind. I don’t know – curious to see what the other writers will come up with. Just now I remembered that in another thread something was said about sharply increased disposal costs for excavation due to stricter regulations on how the transported material must be liquidated. That might be such a case – though probably more of a marginal topic.

The lion's share of the cost increase is certainly due to the overheated housing market that has persisted for years and less to the regulations, which do contribute somewhat but on the other hand also reduce operating costs (heating).

Unrenovated old buildings, which were built long before KfW etc., are also partly outrageously expensive.

Certainly also the many restrictions that have been created in Germany: You take drinking water, the connection may only be made by the supplier (1800€ for us for 5 meters)

You prepare the space for a floor slab? The construction company wants an expert opinion because of the warranty and in our case, for example, the archaeologist had to come and stood there watching for 2 hours and received over 900 euros (no basement)

Sewage, yes you may dig yourself, but it has to be approved by someone, costs money

Obligation to build an inspection shaft, can only be done through the supplier, 2500€

You want a photovoltaic system? You can build it yourself but only an electrician may connect it, also costs money if he even does it at all

Only the grid operator may install the meter, costs money...

Your carport exceeds size x? Building permit please, costs money

Lowered curb? Yes, you may do it yourself but according to technical regulations and it must be approved... 90% of people then have it done by someone else, costs money

You must install a cistern (luckily we didn’t have to but a friend of ours did) costs money whether you need it or not... infiltrating on the property is not sufficient

In other countries, the procedure is more relaxed... I don’t want to say that all the things mentioned above are nonsense but it makes it expensive expensive and expensive...

I think Reggert's list is good. Quite a few small things add up.

I see price increases in the house due to more expensive technology: heat pump, ventilation system, [Photovoltaik-Zwang]. In some places, only the photovoltaic system is mandatory, but the subsidy policy creates the incentive to install the rest as well.

The requirements are also getting higher: huge open space on the ground floor and increasingly often an office specifically for home office: in short, more space per person.