Apply for a preliminary building permit
With the preliminary building enquiry, individual questions relating to a specific building project can be clarified in a legally binding manner before the building application is submitted. The preliminary building enquiry results in a preliminary building decision in which the building authority makes a binding decision on the specific issue. Individual parts of the planning permission procedure can be anticipated in this way, and building law issues relating to projects that do not require a procedure can also be addressed to the building authority. A corresponding preliminary building permit certifies for a period of three years that the project is unobjectionable under public law with regard to the preliminary building enquiry submitted and in this respect binds the decision of the building authority in any subsequent building permit procedure.
Forms/Online Services
Responsible authority
the lower building authority
Depending on the location of the building project, the lower building authority is the municipal or city administration or the district office.
Details
Prerequisite
You have questions about the permissibility of a building project or other important points that you would like to clarify before construction begins.
Procedure
The required building documents are submitted electronically by the client to the responsible building authority via the online service provided by the authority (usually via the Virtual Building Authority). The building authority checks whether the application relates to a specific project and is formulated with sufficient clarity. If this is the case, it examines the question posed and, if necessary, consults those authorities whose area of responsibility is affected.
Once the examination has been completed, the decision is made: The preliminary building permit is issued by answering the decision on the question raised, subject to certain conditions and requirements if necessary.
However, construction may not yet begin on a project requiring authorisation solely on the basis of the positive preliminary building permit. A building permit is still required for this.
Deadlines
The preliminary building permit is valid for three years.
Required documents
All building documents required to assess the issues to be decided by the preliminary decision must be submitted. In case of doubt, it should be agreed in advance with the building authority which documents are required in each individual case.
Costs
The amount of the costs depends on the municipal fee statutes.
Miscellaneous
The preliminary building permit is valid for three years.
Legal basis
Verfahrensverordnung zur Landesbauordnung (LBOVVO):
- § 15 Bauvorlagen für den Bauvorbescheid
Release note
machine generated, based on the German release by: Ministerium für Landesentwicklung und Wohnen Baden-Württemberg, 30.01.2026