building law / building permit
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building law
The entirety of legal regulations and laws that govern the development of plots of land. It determines what may be built, where, and how.
Bevor man ein Haus baut, muss man beim Amt prüfen lassen, ob das Vorhaben dem geltenden Baurecht entspricht.
Before building a house, you have to have the authorities check whether the project complies with the applicable building law.
The word is made up of the verb 'bauen' (to build) and the noun 'das Recht' (right/law). So it literally describes the 'right to build' or the set of rules for it.
Ohne Baurecht darf auf diesem Grundstück nichts errichtet werden.
Without building permission, nothing may be constructed on this plot of land.
'Baurecht' (building law/building permission) is a term from administrative language and the legal field. In everyday life, you mainly hear it when the topic is building or buying a house.
Der Architekt kennt sich gut mit dem lokalen Baurecht aus.
The architect is very familiar with the local building law.
You can recognize the meaning from the context. If it is about general laws, people often speak of 'geltendem Baurecht' (applicable building law). If it is about specific permission, it is combined with verbs like 'haben' (to have), 'bekommen' (to get), or 'erteilen' (to grant).
Dieses Bauvorhaben widerspricht dem geltenden Baurecht.
This construction project violates the applicable building law.
When it is about the specific permission, typical formulations are 'Baurecht schaffen' (to create building rights), 'Baurecht erhalten' (to receive building permission), or 'Baurecht für ein Grundstück haben' (to have building rights for a plot of land).
Die Gemeinde muss erst Baurecht für das neue Wohngebiet schaffen.
The municipality first has to create building rights for the new residential area.
building permit
'Baugenehmigung' and 'Baurecht' both have to do with whether and how building is allowed. A 'Baugenehmigung' is specific written permission from the authority for a particular construction project. Without it, you often may not start building. 'Baurecht' is broader. It can mean the laws and rules that regulate building in general. But it can also mean the specific right to build on a plot of land. The words can be confused because both sound like permission. In practice: For an individual project, people often use 'Baugenehmigung'; when it is about rules or legal possibilities, 'Baurecht' fits.
Vor dem Kauf des Grundstücks ließ die Familie das Baurecht prüfen.
Before buying the plot of land, the family had the building rights checked.
Herr Meier wartet noch auf die Baugenehmigung für seine Garage.
Mr. Meier is still waiting for the building permit for his garage.