The city of Erlangen will implement the new regulations of the so-called “Bau-Turbo” in the future. The city council made this decision at its June meeting. This measure, which was introduced at the end of 2025 through an amendment to the Building Code, is intended to accelerate the completion of residential construction projects and create additional housing.
The new regulations open up additional possibilities for housing projects that would not have been permitted under previous planning laws. This gives the municipality more leeway to respond to the tight housing market.
Early Coordination with the Administration
At the same time, the city makes it clear that the “construction fast-track” in Erlangen is applied based on defined criteria. A prerequisite is always early coordination with the city administration before a building permit application is submitted. The goal is to
- jointly review projects from the outset and
- thus ensure compliance with the statutory deadlines for approval.
Building permit applications submitted without such prior coordination cannot benefit from the “Bau-Turbo” regulations.
The “Bau-Turbo” is intended primarily for use in cases
- where additional living space is created in the form of at least one additional residential unit and
- the projects are compatible with the city’s urban planning goals.
Another requirement is that the properties be located within existing residential areas or in areas with a zoning plan that permits residential use. Application in outlying areas as well as in commercial and industrial zones is excluded.
Implementing the City’s Existing Policy Decisions
The city places particular emphasis on ensuring that new residential construction projects help alleviate pressure on the housing market. For this reason, larger projects should include a variety of housing types. The exclusive construction of micro-apartments does not meet this requirement. In addition, developers must commit to actually building the planned apartments and to implementing the city’s current policy decisions.
In the future as well, new projects should fit into Erlangen’s urban development. Informal planning, urban development concepts, and coordinated competitive bidding processes will continue to gain importance in this regard. They serve as an important basis for evaluating projects and help ensure the city’s long-term development goals.
Protection of Existing Businesses Guaranteed
Although the new provisions of the Building Code allow for deviations from previous planning regulations in certain cases, they set clear limits. For example, existing provisions of the Bavarian Building Code cannot be overridden. The protection of existing commercial enterprises also remains guaranteed.
Since the “Bau-Turbo” is a new tool for which no practical experience is yet available, the city will continuously monitor and evaluate its application. The Department of Building will report to the City Council on its implementation. This will allow the insights gained to be incorporated into the further development of the procedure in the future.
Photo: schmitt photodesign
For Homeowners
Building Supervisory Office - Central Plan Acceptance
This is where all incoming applications are received, recorded and checked for completeness. Building applications that have significant defects and therefore cannot be processed are returned to the applicant. It is no longer possible to submit plans to individual clerks. Only once the documents are complete will they be passed on to the relevant staff. This means that only then is it clear who will process "your" application.
Bauaufsichtsamt - Current information
Please make an appointment to submit applications in person, for consultations, etc. The building application can be submitted in person or online.
Building Supervisory Office - Central Plan Acceptance
This is where all incoming applications are received, recorded and checked for completeness. Building applications that have significant defects and therefore cannot be processed are returned to the applicant. It is no longer possible to submit plans to individual clerks. Only once the documents are complete will they be passed on to the relevant staff. This means that only then is it clear who will process "your" application.
Bauaufsichtsamt - Current information
Please make an appointment to submit applications in person, for consultations, etc. The building application can be submitted in person or online.