Construction Projects; Application for an Extension of a Building Permit or a Preliminary Decision

Building permits, partial building permits, and preliminary decisions are each valid only for a specific period of time.

If you are unable to begin your approved project within 4 years, you may apply for an extension. If you do not receive a building permit within 4 years of receiving a preliminary decision concerning the same project, you may apply for an extension of the preliminary decision.

The extension period is up to four years, and multiple extensions are possible.

An extension of the validity period of a building permit or partial building permit must be assessed based on the same requirements as those for the initial issuance. The project must therefore still be subject to approval at the time the lower building authority makes its decision on the extension. In addition, the project must comply with the public law regulations that are to be reviewed during the approval process.

This applies accordingly to the extension of a preliminary decision.

Consequently, if the legal situation changes after the permit or preliminary decision has been issued, the extension must be reviewed in light of the new legal situation in each case.

Written Submission

• Submit a written request to the competent lower-level building authority to extend the validity period of your building permit, partial building permit, or preliminary decision.
• Verbal applications are not accepted.
• The local building authority will then decide on your application and notify you of the outcome.
• If the lower-level building authority does not decide on your application until after the validity period has expired, your building permit, partial building permit, or preliminary decision will be temporarily invalid. These will only be reinstated once the lower-level building authority issues a positive decision.

Digital Submission

Digital submission of applications for extension is not yet possible throughout all of Bavaria. When you select a location, the link to the online procedure will appear, provided it is already available.

• The application for an extension can be submitted digitally to the lower building authority using the online wizard.
• Attachments are uploaded in electronic form (PDF files) via the online wizard.
• Signatures are replaced by authentication via a “BayernID” or “Mein Unternehmenskonto” user account.

Apply for an extension well in advance if it becomes apparent that the validity period will not be sufficient.

Your building permit or partial building permit expires if you have not begun construction within 4 years of its issuance or if you have suspended construction for 4 years. Your application for an extension must be received by the competent lower-level building authority before the expiration of the validity period. Receipt by the municipality is not sufficient to meet the deadline.

Your preliminary decision is valid for 4 years. Your application for an extension must be received by the competent lower-level building authority before the expiration of the validity period. Receipt by the municipality is not sufficient to meet the deadline.

The processing time depends on the scope and complexity of the project and the current workload of the lower-level building authority.