Building files; request for inspection

Parties involved in the building inspection procedure can inspect these construction files. These are in particular the building owners. However, owners of neighboring properties can also be parties involved. The inspection includes, in particular, permits issued and construction plans of existing buildings. It can also be carried out by authorized representatives.

The files can be inspected either on the authority's premises or by sending a copy.

The city archive manages the building documents created by the municipal building inspectorate. This concerns all properties in Erlangen and the incorporated suburbs. The files contain the completed construction processes (building applications, permits, plans, static calculations, drainage plans, etc.). These were created by the building inspectorate as part of the Erlangen city administration in the course of building permit procedures.

The building files generally cover a period from 1837 to the last building process. In the case of incorporated towns, the duration of the files varies and usually begins shortly before the respective incorporation.

The municipal archive is not responsible for building processes that have not yet been completed or for specialist questions on building law. If you have any questions in this regard or if there is an ongoing legal dispute, please contact the building inspectorate directly.

You can find building documents from us for properties in the following locations:

• Erlangen
• Alterlangen
• Bruck
• Büchenbach
• Dechsendorf
• Eltersdorf
• Frauenaurach (with Neuses and Schallershof)
• Hüttendorf
• Klosterwald
• Kosbach (with Häusling and Steudach)
• Kriegenbrunn
• Mönau
• Sieglitzhof
• Tennenlohe

We do not keep records from localities outside Erlangen (for example in the district of Erlangen Höchstadt). Please contact the municipality in which the property is located.

The building owner regularly has a legal interest. Neighbors also regularly have a right to inspect files. However, this does not apply if a neighbor has given their consent to a building project.

Once a building permit procedure has been completed, there is no longer any right to inspect the files. However, the responsible lower building supervisory authority (district office, independent city, large district town, delegation municipality) can grant access to the files if there is a legitimate interest. Such a legitimate interest may exist, for example, in the case of a potential buyer of a property who wants to find out about the building permit situation.

Not everyone can inspect the building files, but only the owner or an authorized person. There is only a right to inspect the files if knowledge is required for the assertion or defense of legal interests. As a result, parts of the file that are not in the legal interest of the owner will not be presented.

Please bring your identity card and proof that you are authorized to inspect the file - a so-called legitimation - with you to your appointment.

If you are the owner of the property, a current proof of ownership is sufficient. This must not be older than two years. Proof of ownership includes

• Land tax assessment notice
• Purchase contract
• Prior notice of conveyance with purchase contract
• Extract from the land register
• Statement of account for garbage collection fees (owner + address must be included)
• Certificate of inheritance

If you would like to inspect the file on behalf of the current owner, you will need a signed power of attorney in addition to the above-mentioned proof of ownership. If there is more than one owner, only one owner needs to sign the power of attorney. Unless otherwise specified, a power of attorney is valid for six months.

Power of attorney template:

Grant power of attorney to inspect building files

You can then inspect the file at the building regulations office on presentation of your identity card and proof of ownership and, if applicable, a power of attorney from the owner. This is done at the responsible lower building supervisory authority (district office, independent city, large district town, delegation municipality) and usually in the authority's offices. However, it is also possible to send a copy of the building file.

Please complete the form"Request to view building files" (see online procedure). You can have all building permit notices and plans presented to you. If you would also like to view e.g. drainage documents or structural calculations, please list them separately on the form.

As soon as the documents are ready for inspection, we will contact you to arrange an appointment in the reading room. It can take up to three weeks between the request and the appointment.

In the reading room, you will then be shown the building file documents you have ordered. You can mark important documents and order them with a reproduction order. Photographs may also be taken (if you are an authorized representative, please note the power of attorney!) The file will then be available for inspection for a further two weeks by arrangement.

You can order scans or copies. Scans can be made in all formats by the city archive. Copies can be made up to DIN A3. Large orders are processed by an external agency.

The reproductions are not made on site. The processing time is usually a few days to four weeks, depending on the size of the order.

If you have any further questions or require more information, we will be happy to help you.

By telephone:

+ (49) 09131 / 86 - 2219 - Reading room
+ (49) 09131 / 86 - 2886 - Construction file administration

By mail:

stadtarchiv@stadt.erlangen.de

• Identity card
• Proof of ownership (e.g. extract from the land register, purchase contract, property tax assessment notice)
• Power of attorney from the landowner, if applicable
• Power of attorney from the property management or the community of owners, if applicable

Additional fees are charged for photocopies.

The fee for inspecting building files is 15.00 euros per address or file unit.

Costs for scans/copies see: City Archive - Fee schedule

If the production of reproductions is not expressly permitted in the power of attorney, the construction documents can only be submitted for inspection.