Planning and Building

What needs to be clarified before construction begins – the building authority can help

It is both sensible and cost-effective to contact the municipality before starting a planned construction project. During a free preliminary meeting or construction consultation, details and open questions can be discussed and clarified. Don't forget – since February 2020, a revised legal framework for both building and regional planning laws has been in place in Styria!

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For the preliminary consultation, the following points are important:

• Clarification of property ownership

• Presentation of the planned construction (sketches, plans, photos of similar buildings, etc.)

• Location of the planned building on the property

• Suitability of the building site (zoning, utilities such as water, wastewater, electrical energy, load-bearing capacity of the ground, safety risks to neighboring buildings, protection from avalanches, flooding, groundwater, mudslides, rockfall, landslides, etc., suitable and legally secured access, soil permeability, permissible noise emissions, etc.)

• Has a zoning plan been adopted for the property? – If yes, then building volume, building location, roof shapes, etc., are already specified.

• Is there a construction obligation within a certain timeframe?

• Are there any easements on the property?

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What does the municipality do?

In the first step, the municipality checks the following questions:

• Is the construction project "subject to approval," "subject to approval under a simplified procedure" (formerly "notification requirement"), or only "reportable" (formerly "not requiring a building permit")? For example, covered parking, outbuildings, fences.

• Can construction take place on this site? (zoning, access, utility lines, water rights, other rights?)

• Are the distances to neighboring properties in compliance with the building regulations?

• Are neighboring rights affected?

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What happens next?

The complete submission documents are processed by the municipality, and either a building negotiation is scheduled, or – in the simplified procedure – the legal neighbors sign the construction plan to give their approval.

If all legal conditions are met, a building permit decision will be issued depending on the category of the construction project. In the event of an appeal against this decision, the Styria State Administrative Court will make a ruling.

Advance registration for construction consultation is requested at the Turnau Municipal Office.