Projects not requiring approval (Section 62 BauO NRW)

The erection or modification of certain structural installations and other installations and facilities within the meaning of the building regulations does not require planning permission.

For many smaller building projects, Section 62 of the NRW Building Regulations 2018 provides for exemption from approval. Here are some examples from the list of various projects:

• Buildings with a gross volume of up to 75 m³ without recreation rooms, stables, toilets or fireplaces. In outdoor areas, this only applies if the projects serve an agricultural or forestry business and are not used for sales or exhibition purposes,
• Retaining walls and enclosures up to 2.0 m, except in outdoor areas,
• Parabolic antenna systems with reflector dishes up to a diameter of 1.20 m and up to a height of 10.0 m, other antennas and transmission systems including masts with a height of up to 10.0 m, as well as changes to the use or external appearance of the structure if the antenna or transmission system is erected in, on or near an existing structure,
• uncovered parking spaces for cars and motorcycles up to a total of 100 m² ,
• Display areas, parking spaces and storage areas up to 300 m² in area except in residential areas and in outdoor areas,
• Structures that serve the garden design or the appropriate furnishing of gardens, such as benches, seating groups, pergolas,
• Water basins up to 100 m³,
• Vending machines,
• Fills and excavations with a height or depth of up to 2 m and a base area of up to 30 m², in outdoor areas only if the fills and excavations do not exceed an area of 400 m²,
• insignificant structures such as carpet poles, awnings, terraces and beehives,
• Patio roofing with an area of up to 30 m² and a depth of up to 4.50 m,
• (list is not exhaustive)

The following also do not require planning permission

• a minor change to load-bearing or bracing components within buildings that does not affect the structural safety; a non-minor change to these components if an expert certifies in writing to the building owner that the measure is not dangerous,
• changing the exterior design by painting, plastering, pointing, roofing, by installing or replacing windows and doors, replacing surrounds as well as by cladding and connections; this does not apply in areas for which a local building regulation exists (monument area, design statutes, etc.).

The exemption from approval does not release from the obligation to comply with the requirements set out in the BauO NRW 2018, in regulations based on the BauO NRW 2018 or in other public law regulations.