The Local Development Plan – The small print from the local council

Even if, according to the Bavarian Building Code (or your federal state’s equivalent), your garden shed would not require planning permission due to its size, the local authority often still has a significant say in the matter. The key instrument for this is the local development plan (B-Plan). It sets out in detail how plots of land in a specific area may be used and developed.

Why state law is not the sole authority

State law sets the framework (e.g. the 75 m³ limit in Bavaria), but the local authority’s development plan establishes the specific guidelines for your neighbourhood. It can impose restrictions that go beyond the general building regulations.

Key points in the development plan:

• Building boundaries and building lines: The development plan often defines so-called ‘building zones’. These are areas on your plot where building is permitted. A garden shed outside these areas – for example, in the front garden or in a protected green space – is often not permitted, even if the 9-metre rule for boundary development would theoretically be met.
• Roof shape and design: Our cubes are characterised by a modern flat-roof design. However, some development plans strictly require a specific roof shape (e.g. a gable roof) or a specific roof covering (e.g. red tiles) in order to maintain a uniform townscape.
• Material restrictions and colour requirements: Although Trespa^® façades are of high architectural quality, there are isolated areas where certain materials or very striking colours are prohibited. Our muted colour palettes and the elegant HPL texture usually blend in seamlessly here, but should be checked in advance.

What to do if there is no local development plan?

In established town centres without a current development plan, Section 34 of the German Building Code (BauGB) applies. Here, the principle of integration applies: your project must blend in with the character of the immediate surroundings. As our garden sheds impress with their clean lines and high-quality materials, this criterion is usually met without any issues.

Our planning service for you

To avoid having to make repeated requests to the authorities, we recommend taking a quick look at your local authority’s online plans (often available on the town’s ‘Geoportal’).

We can assist you with this: based on your location, we’ll be happy to take an initial look at the local regulations. This ensures that your garden shed is on solid ground not only from a technical perspective but also in terms of local planning law. We’ll therefore provide you with an initial assessment. However, the final decision and responsibility always lie with the client and cannot be assumed by us.