Official Gazette

Official Gazette - The Official Gazette is the official publication of a municipality or county in which legally binding notices are published. It is relevant to property owners because it is where, among other things, zoning plans, ordinances, land readjustment procedures, redevelopment areas, and municipal regulations (such as those governing development, drainage, and parking) are announced.

Significance for Property Owners

Many governmental measures affecting the value and usability of a property are published exclusively in the Official Gazette. The public review of draft zoning plans is announced there, as is the adoption of statutes for new or amended zoning plans. Foreclosure sale dates, land readjustment orders, and the designation of redevelopment areas are also published in the Official Gazette.

Publication in the Official Gazette triggers deadlines: The one-month period for challenging a zoning plan begins upon its publication. Anyone who misses this deadline generally loses the opportunity to legally challenge the plan-even if the plan contains legal errors. This also applies to the public comment periods for land readjustment proceedings and redevelopment statutes, which can have significant implications for affected property owners.

Deadlines Triggered by Official Gazette Publication - Overview

Type of Publication	Triggered Deadline	Consequence of Failure to Meet Deadline
Zoning Plan Resolution	1 year for application for judicial review	Right to challenge forfeited
Public Review of Zoning Plan	30 days for comments	No further objections possible
Redevelopment Statute	Filing deadline for compensation claims	Compensation forfeited
Development Contribution Statute	1 year for objection	Decision becomes final
Land Readjustment Order	Deadline for applications under §§ 45 ff. BauGB	Owner’s wishes not considered
Foreclosure Auction Date	Registration of rights in the ZVG	Loss of rights possible

Real Estate-Related Content in the Official Gazette

The following announcements directly related to real estate appear regularly in the Official Gazette:

• Zoning plans: Draft public hearings, adoption of zoning regulations, amendment procedures
• Redevelopment statutes: Designation and revocation of formal redevelopment areas under § 142 BauGB, which establish special permitting requirements for construction projects
• Land readjustment proceedings: Initiation and conclusion of land readjustment proceedings pursuant to Sections 45 et seq. of the BauGB
• Development and contribution statutes: New or amended statutes governing the contribution obligations of property owners
• Foreclosure auction dates: Public notices pursuant to Section 39 of the ZVG
• Exercise of preemptive rights: Notices from the municipality when it asserts a statutory or statutory preemptive right
• Land use plan amendments: Announcements of amendment procedures and their results

Legal Effect of the Official Gazette Notice

An important point: Publication in the official gazette constitutes legal service. The deadline begins on the date of publication-regardless of whether an affected property owner has actually taken note of the notice. Anyone claiming ignorance will not be heard in court. This underscores the necessity of regularly monitoring the official gazette if you own or wish to acquire property in a municipality.

Practical Tip for Nuremberg and the Metropolitan Region

In Nuremberg, the city regularly publishes the Official Gazette online on the municipal website (nuernberg.de). We recommend that property owners and prospective buyers monitor the announcements in the Official Gazette, especially if changes to the zoning plan are pending in the immediate vicinity. Early awareness allows for participation in public participation procedures and compliance with objection deadlines-those who fail to submit comments in a timely manner permanently lose their right to object.

When purchasing property, we recommend checking in advance whether a redevelopment zone, a land readjustment procedure, or a zoning plan amendment is pending for the area in question. This information is available from the Nuremberg City Planning Office and by reviewing current and past official gazettes, and can significantly influence a property’s value and developability. In active growth districts such as Nuremberg-Lichtenreuth, Röthelheimpark in Erlangen, or Fürth’s Südstadt, new announcements are regularly published that provide property owners and investors with important information regarding planned changes.

The districts of Nürnberger Land, Fürth, Erlangen-Höchstadt, and Roth publish their own official gazettes or district bulletins containing relevant announcements for their respective municipal areas. Anyone who owns property in multiple municipalities should keep an eye on the respective local publications.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I find my municipality’s official gazette?

Many municipalities publish their official gazette on the municipal website or via the citizen portal. In Nuremberg, the official gazette is available on the city’s website (nuernberg.de) under the section “City Law and Notices.” Alternatively, it can be viewed at city hall or in the city archives. In smaller surrounding municipalities, the official gazette is often published only as a print edition in the local weekly newspaper or is distributed directly to households.

Do I have to read the official gazette regularly?

There is no legal obligation to do so, but notices in the official gazette are considered served and trigger deadlines. These deadlines-such as for challenging a zoning plan or submitting comments in a land readjustment proceeding-run regardless of whether the property owner has actually read the notice. Especially for property owners in areas undergoing active urban development, it is advisable to check the Official Gazette regularly so as not to miss any announcements relevant to taking action.

Are property sales also published in the Official Gazette?

Private property sales are not published in the Official Gazette. Public property sales by municipalities, government agencies, or municipal companies, on the other hand, are regularly announced there, as are foreclosure auction dates pursuant to Section 39 of the Act on Foreclosure and Receivership (ZVG). Anyone interested in foreclosure auctions can find a complete overview of upcoming dates for the Nuremberg Local Court district in the Official Gazette-or online at zvg-portal.de.

Can zoning plan amendments in the Official Gazette also be relevant for neighboring properties?

Yes, and this is often underestimated. A zoning plan amendment affecting a neighboring property-such as an increase in the permitted building density or a change in the ridge height-can directly impact the sunlight exposure, shading, and the streetscape of one’s own property. Owners who learn of such a plan amendment early on can submit comments during the public participation process and, if necessary, file objections. Once the zoning plan has been adopted, such objections are permanently barred. Regularly reading the Nuremberg Official Gazette is therefore not only relevant for your own parcel but for the entire surrounding area, which influences the value and usability of a property.

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