The Bavarian Ministry of the Interior - Law, Planning and Structural Engineering

Building made easy in Bavaria

Bavaria is one of the top states nationwide when it comes to building permission and completed projects

With an annual construction volume of approximately 45,000 private and public buildings in Bavaria there is a need for control in terms of urban development and for building construction that is compatible with the environment and landscape as well as being safe for users and builder-owners alike. In the field of urban development the building authorities provide consultancy for towns and municipalities on their planning: for example, for new residential and industrial estates. We provide planning grants to support model concepts, competitions and expertises. The EUR 100 million from privatisation revenues are helping to build innovative, trend-setting model housing estates for up to 10,000 people as part of the "Siedlungsmodelle" - Housing Estate Models - scheme in close cooperation with the municipalities.

Since 1994 and 1998 the Bavarian Building Code has made building easier. The simplified process for obtaining a building permit is faster and less expensive for the owner-builders than the conventional system. Under certain circumstances, a newly implemented exemption procedure even enables building without planning permission . This gives all those involved in the construction work more freedom, but also more responsibility. Both of the new procedures have proven to be very effective - to date this year, they have saved owner-builders nearly EUR 130 million.

The Structural Engineering Department is concerned with the technical building regulations governing structural stability, fire and soundproofing, and proper insulation; the implementation of innovative building products and methods; as well as the harmonization of technical regulations at federal level and in the European Union. The aim here is to keep the number of rules and regulations to an absolute minimum, as required by a modern state.

The law of public streets and roads forms the legal basis for the construction and maintenance of an efficient road network.