Exemption from approval: Submit documents

Are you planning a small new construction or renovation project in Hamburg? You may be exempt from the permit requirement. Find out here how to register your project with the relevant authority.

Use Online-Service

Digital building permit

Detailed description

For certain smaller new construction and renovation projects in Hamburg, you do not need a permit. You simply need to report your project to the relevant authority.

 

Information

Prerequisites

  • You are authorized to submit building plans yourself or
  • You are the client or building owner and have a person authorized to submit building plans on your side. This could be, for example, an architect or a civil engineer.
  • Their construction project involves a small residential building, which
    • within the area covered by the development plan
    • belonging to building class 1-2 or as a detached residential building of building class 3
    • It has no underground parking garage
    • or the construction of dormer windows on the aforementioned buildings
    • or the conversion of an attic into living space.

Documents required

Depending on the type and scope of the project, different documents are required. The requirements for building plans are generally regulated in the Building Plan Ordinance. Your authorized building planner, due to their professional qualifications, will usually know exactly which documents and evidence are required.

Please note

The exemption from approval

  • This does not preclude later intervention by the authorities if the construction project violates public regulations.
  • does not exempt from other required permits, such as regulations concerning the protection of historical monuments.

Deadlines

Unless you receive a different response from the responsible authority within one month of submitting the complete building plans, you may begin the project.

Procedure

  • They submit the required building documents for the construction project via the provided online service.
  • The responsible authority will examine whether there are any reasons against your exemption from the approval requirement.
  • The responsible authority must contact you within a specific timeframe and inform you if the conditions for exemption from the permit requirement are not met. You can then apply for a building permit through the usual channels.
  • If the responsible authority does not get back to you within the specified timeframe, you can begin implementing your project.

Processing time

Processing takes up to one month.

Fees

You must pay a fee of EUR 150.00 for each exemption from the approval requirement.

Legal remedies

Contradiction

Legal basis

Section 62 of the Hamburg Building Code (HBauO)


https://www.landesrecht-hamburg.de/bsha/document/jlr-BauOHA2025pP62


Building Fee Regulations (BauGebO)


https://www.landesrecht-hamburg.de/bsha/document/jlr-BauGebOHA2025rahmen

Links on the Internet

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Keywords: Building permit

Last updated: 10.10.2026