Obtain industrial operating permit
Agency: Vienna City Administration
In Austria industrial operating permits (plant permits) are required when the plant (i) could endanger the lives, health or property of neighbors or employees of the plant; (ii) could cause inconvenience to neighbors with respect to noise, dust, smoke or other pollution; (iii) could cause inconvenience to public institutions such as churches, schools, hospitals; or (iv) could possibly endanger the quality of water.
When issuing a industrial operating permits, the relevant authority usually imposes a number of conditions that the owner of the plant needs to fulfill during its operation. The plant permit is not obligatory required prior to obtaining a construction permit. However, it might be helpful obtaining the plant permit before obtaining a construction permit as the plant permit (potentially) will set out several requirements that should be considered in respect of the construction permit.
Time and cost: 80 days, EUR 300
Obtain approval of heat and noise insulation
Agency: Independent Expert – Insulation Engineering
This approval is issued by an insulation engineering expert. BuildCo must hire a third-party specialist to conduct this work.
Time and cost: 30 days, EUR 5,000
Obtain expert opinion on structural engineering
Agency: Independent Expert – Structural Engineering
The company must request this opinion from an independent expert.
Time and cost: 11 days, EUR 5,000
Obtain energy pass (energieausweiss)
Agency: Independent Expert – Energy Engineering
Following the Directive of European Union 2002/91/EC the practice of requiring the so called “Energy Pass” (Energieausweiss) by the Municipality of Vienna has become compulsory for all projects as of January 2009. The energy pass is required when applying for the building permit at the relevant authority of City of Vienna. There are officially licensed companies and individual engineers that issue the energy pass. The prices may range, however on average it is EUR 700.00 for a building with overall size of 1300.6 sq. m. This procedure will normally take between 1-2 weeks to complete.
Time and cost: 10 days, EUR 700
Receive on-site inspection prior to issuance of building permit
Agency: Municipal Building Inspection (Baupolizei; MA 37)
A physical inspection occurs before a building permit is issued. The inspection fee is EUR 7.63 per half hour. The inspection is estimated at 3 hours.
The Building Inspection (MA 37) of the City of Vienna is provided upon approval of construction projects and is responsible for monitoring of buildings, orderly expansion of the city, and ensuring the safety of citizens.
Time and cost: 1 day, EUR 46
Obtain proof of land ownership
Agency: Land Registry
BuildCo must obtain and submit with the building permit request a proof of land ownership that is not older than 3 months. This can be obtained online via certain authorized/registers companies’ websites.
Time and cost: 0.5 days, EUR 14
Hire a licensed engineer for construction supervision
Agency: Private licensed engineer (Prüfingenieur)
BuildCo has to hire an external supervising engineer to supervise the entire construction process. The supervising engineer will visit the construction site at least once per week to ensure that the construction is in line with the relevant construction regulations. The engineers usually charge between EUR 120 – EUR 200 per hour of work.
Time and cost: 1 day, EUR 4,800
Obtain building permit
Agency: Municipal Building Inspection (Baupolizei; MA 37)
The construction must begin within 4 years of the date of issue, and be completed within and additional 4 years after the start of construction.
Documents required for a building permit:
- Application for building permit
- Approval of the land ownership of registered land
- Current Land Registry copy (not older than three months)
- An energy performance certificate (in electronic form) and proof of noise control, heat and sound insulation
- For new, additions or modifications: confirmation of the plan or author’s plan
- Demonstration of compliance with the parking requirement
- Static concept or preliminary design including foundations for smaller construction projects report that insignificance of the project for structural reasons, where no risk is due to the (experts or expert)
- Confirmation of the principles of accessible design and construction
- Design concept for garden areas of the site, for new buildings for construction class III
- Proving the availability of sufficient water for firefighting on the plan; information on hydrants
- Locations for waste receptacles
- For enterprises that are under the Seveso II Directive: documentation of the risks
- Required documents for architectural review of the Department of Architecture and Urban Design (MA 19)
If it is determined that the subjective rights of neighbors are affected, a public hearing must be held. The cost for a public hearing amount to EUR 7.36 per half hour.
Time and cost: 80 days, EUR 300
Request and receive on-site inspection prior to commencement of construction
Agency: Municipal Building Inspection (Baupolizei; MA 37)
Municipal Building Inspection performs a physical inspection before the start of construction. The building inspection during construction is done by the building supervisor of the company. However, if any irregularities take place during the construction, the civil engineer appointed by the municipality will come to the site.
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Request and obtain water and sewage connection
Agency: Vienna Water Works
The municipal authority provides both water and sewerage connections. The request can be made online, but service delivery takes 60 days.
Time and cost: 60 days, EUR 8,478
Notify the municipal authority about completion of construction works
Agency: Municipal Building Inspection (Baupolizei; MA 37)
Upon completion of construction work, BuildCo must provide the municipal authority with a notification of completion. The notification must be certified by a civil engineer and include several reports.
The cost is EUR 22 if no changes to the building design were made, and EUR 50 if there were changes.
Time and cost: 1 day, EUR 22
