Applying for planning permission for a change of use of a facility using the simplified procedure

If you want to change the use of installations that require planning permission but do not require approval and are not exempt from approval, you can submit an application using the simplified procedure.

If the approved use of a building is changed, this change of use - even if no structural changes are made - generally requires planning permission, i.e. a corresponding building permit must be obtained before the new use can commence.

Exceptions:

• changes of use that do not require a procedure as defined in Annex III to Section 63 HBO or
• Possibility of carrying out an approval exemption procedure if the requirements specified in § 64 Para. 1 HBO are met

If a building permit procedure is to be carried out, the building permit for a change of use is usually granted in a simplified building permit procedure.

The building permit expires if you do not start construction work within 3 years of the permit being granted or if construction work has been interrupted for one year after this period. The period can be extended by up to 2 years in each case, even several times, with a written application.

Please contact the lower building supervisory authority (building supervisory authorities of the districts, independent cities and special status cities).

In addition to the building application, the documents required for the assessment of the project and the processing of the building application must be submitted to the lower building supervisory authority in analog/digital form.

These documents can be, for example

• Site plan
• Extract from the official real estate map
• Building description
• construction drawings

The documents to be submitted can be found in the Hessian Building Documents Decree.

The structural engineering certificates must be submitted to the building inspectorate prior to the execution of the respective construction phases, the building documents not subject to mandatory inspection prior to the start of construction.

An appeal may be lodged against the authority's decision within one month of notification.

• You complete the application digitally in the building portal or in analog form and submit it together with the required documents to the responsible building authority
• The building authority checks your application and the documents
• If all requirements are met, the building authority will grant you the permit
  

The duration of the procedure depends on the individual case, including which agencies need to be involved. As a rule, the procedure takes a maximum of 3 months.

The procedure can only be extended by 2 months if there are special circumstances.

The building application is deemed to have been approved if no decision has been made within this period.

Fee from 100,00 EUR to 3.500,00 EUR