1. Which fee fell and why
The change corrects an inconsistency that had persisted for years. It concerned the fees for small buildings.
| Procedure | Before | From 01.08.2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit for a dwelling | €150 | €150 |
| Building permit for an outbuilding serving a dwelling, or extension by more than 33 % | €250 | €150 |
The inconsistency was that an outbuilding was charged at the non-residential rate, although it serves a dwelling. According to fee information published by local authorities, the building permit fee for a dwelling was €150, but sheds, garages and other outbuildings did not fall into that category.
The practical effect is small but concrete: adding a shed or a garage to a house becomes €100 cheaper. The cost fell by the procedure.
2. Which one was abolished
This is the largest change in money terms in the article, and it concerns old buildings. It concerns the fee for legalisation.
The €500 state fee payable when entering an unauthorised building in the building register is abolished. According to information published by local authorities, it applied to entering a building constructed before the Building Code came into force, without any further building or occupancy permit fee being due.
It was until now the single largest obstacle to regularising old buildings, because the amount had to be paid before any result was obtained. According to institutional sources, the change makes registering old but factually existing buildings substantially cheaper.
Together with the reduced burden of proof for buildings erected before 1995, two obstacles disappeared at once: money and evidence. This is a good moment to resolve long-postponed cases.
3. Which stayed the same
One rate the change did not touch, and it was already low. It continues to apply unchanged.
The state fee for a demolition permit application remains at €30. The rate reflects the relative simplicity of the procedure compared with building, since demolition does not require technical assessment on the same scale.
4. How fees are structured in general
Four principles help you orient yourself even when you do not remember the specific rate. They give the order of magnitude.
| Principle | Consequence |
|---|---|
| A building notice carries no state fee | the fee accompanies a permit only |
| Residential and non-residential rates differ | the non-residential rate is higher |
| Demolition is cheaper than building | regardless of the type of structure |
| With several buildings, a fee is due for each building requiring a permit | cost grows with the number of buildings |
The fourth principle matters most for the budget of a larger project, and it is not altered by the possibility of handling several buildings in one occupancy procedure. A joint procedure consolidates the paperwork, not the fee calculation. Building permit and occupancy permit fees are also separate.
5. Where to find the rates in force
Two sources, because rates change and past experience ages quickly. They are the statute and the local authority.
The State Fees Act, whose relevant chapter sets the rates for acts performed under the Building Code, is the legal basis. Fee information published by the local authority is usually kept up to date and presented more practically, which makes it better suited to a quick check.
This article replaces neither, and rates must be verified before payment. The rate in force is the only one that counts.
Summary and four practical rules
The building permit fee for an outbuilding serving a dwelling fell from €250 to €150, bringing it into line with the rate for dwellings and correcting an inconsistency under which an outbuilding was charged at the non-residential rate. The larger change in money terms is the abolition of the €500 fee for entering an unauthorised building in the register, which was the single largest obstacle to regularising old buildings. The demolition permit fee stayed at €30, and a building notice still carries no state fee.
Four rules: allow for the new lower outbuilding rate if the project falls in the second half of 2026. Recommend regularising old buildings now, since the €500 fee is gone. With several buildings, budget a fee per building rather than per application. Check the rates in force in the State Fees Act rather than relying on past experience.
This article offers professional orientation as at the date of verification. It does not replace the assessment of the local authority.