Plan view

A plan is a standard-compliant graphical representation of construction projects, properties, or land uses in technical drawings, floor plans, sections, elevations, or planning maps. In the construction and real estate industries, plans serve as an indispensable basis for building permits, purchase agreements, appraisals, and marketing. Scale, legend, north arrow, and plan symbols follow established standards (DIN 1356, DIN 18205).

Types of Plans in the Real Estate Sector

There are various types of plans:

• The site plan shows the property in the context of its surroundings (parcels, neighboring buildings, utilities, building lines, and setback areas). It is an indispensable component of every building permit application.
• The floor plan depicts the horizontal cross-section of a floor-walls, doors, windows, room layout, plumbing fixtures, and staircases.
• Sections show the vertical structure of the building: room heights, roof pitch, floor structure, and window and door lintels.
• Elevations depict the exterior facade from various directions and reveal the eave height, ridge height, and facade design.

In the building permit process, all four types of plans must be submitted in a standardized format and at the prescribed scale. In real estate marketing, simplified or stylized floor plans are used, allowing buyers to grasp the spatial structure of a property at a glance.

Significance for Building Permits and Purchase Agreements

In the building permit process, plan documents must be submitted to the building authority in the prescribed scale and format (in Bavaria: in accordance with the Bavarian Building Code (BayBO) and the Ordinance on Building Documents (BauVorlV)). Incomplete or incorrect plan representations lead to inquiries and delays-in extreme cases, to the rejection of the application due to formal deficiencies. In Nuremberg, the Building Authority increasingly uses incompleteness as a reason to suspend deadlines and delay processing.

In purchase agreements for new-construction properties, the approved plans are an integral part of the contract; discrepancies between the plans and the actual construction may trigger warranty claims. Buyers of a new-construction property should therefore verify whether changes to the floor plan during the construction phase are addressed in the purchase agreement and how deviations from the plans are handled.

For existing properties, existing plans are important documents for future renovations and building permits. If plans are missing-which is common for buildings constructed before 1945 and for post-war reconstructions in Nuremberg-an as-built survey by an architect or surveyor may be necessary before a renovation application can be submitted.

Digital Planning and BIM

Modern plan presentation is predominantly digital, using CAD software (Computer-Aided Design, e.g., AutoCAD, ArchiCAD) or Building Information Modeling (BIM). BIM goes beyond mere drawings and links plan presentation with material data, costs, schedules, and building properties in a digital building model. All plan drawings are derived from a central model and are always consistent.

For real estate buyers and investors, digital plan presentation opens up new possibilities: 3D visualizations, virtual tours, and interactive floor plans significantly improve understanding of the property. High-quality floor plan renderings in the property listing-featuring furnishing suggestions, dimensions, and compass directions-increase the likelihood of a sale and reduce inquiries about room sizes and potential uses.

Practical Tip for Property Owners in Nuremberg and Franconia

Anyone looking to sell a property in Nuremberg should compile all existing construction drawings and approved plans well in advance. Ideally, the following documents should be available: an approved site plan, floor plans for all levels, cross-sections and elevations, a living space calculation in accordance with the WoFlV, and, if applicable, renovation plans with the corresponding approvals.

If plans are missing-which is often the case with older existing buildings-an inventory survey by an architect or surveyor can be helpful. If needed, we coordinate the creation of professional marketing floor plans based on existing documents or on-site measurements. Well-prepared floor plans in the property listing have been shown to increase click-through rates and the quality of inquiries during property marketing. Prospective buyers who can tell from the floor plan whether a property fits their daily life are more likely to make qualified viewing requests.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I get old building plans for my building?

Old building permit plans can be requested from the relevant building authority (in Nuremberg: City of Nuremberg Building Regulations Office, Lorenzer Platz). Archiving practices vary depending on the year of construction and the district; plans may be missing for buildings constructed before 1945 or during the post-war reconstruction period. In this case, an on-site survey by an architect who records the actual dimensions and converts them into standard-compliant plans can be helpful. The cost of such a survey ranges from 500 to 2,000 euros, depending on the size of the building.

Do floor plans for a property brochure have to be to scale?

There is no legal requirement for floor plans in a marketing brochure to be to scale, but a correct and complete representation of the floor plan is important. Misleading floor plans-those that make rooms appear larger than they are or conceal significant limitations such as sloped ceilings-can lead to liability claims. We rely on professionally prepared, accurate floor plan representations that provide buyers with fair information while highlighting the property’s strengths.

What is the difference between a floor plan and a site plan?

The floor plan shows a horizontal cross-section of a building floor (room layout, walls, doors, windows, dimensions). The site plan depicts the property within its surroundings and shows the exact position of the building on the parcel, as well as boundaries, distances, access, and neighboring buildings. An official site plan is mandatory for building permits-it is prepared by the land surveying office and contains the surveyed boundaries from the cadastral register.

What plans do I need for a renovation application?

For a renovation application in Bavaria, you generally need: an official site plan (no older than two years), floor plans of all affected floors (existing and planned conditions, overlaid or separate), sections and elevations (if structurally relevant), and a building specification. The architect prepares these documents and submits them to the building authority. Upon request, we can connect you with experienced architects in Nuremberg who are familiar with the local permitting process.

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