Digitization of building applications in Saxony is progressing

Architects and building owners in some Saxon municipalities will in future be able to submit building applications without any paper at all via the so-called building portal. "This is an important milestone in the digitalization of our construction services," said Leipzig's Mayor of Construction Thomas Dienberg (Greens). The process has been tested as part of a pilot project in Leipzig and elsewhere since January.

Digitalization is progressing

In addition to the trade fair city, the project also took place in the district of Leipzig, the district of Central Saxony and the municipal administrations of Glauchau and Zittau. The digital process has already been introduced in Leipzig and the district of Central Saxony, with the other municipalities set to follow soon.

The aim of this measure is to create a user-friendly and clearer process without media disruptions, making the planning application process more efficient and time-saving. Media disruptions occur when information has to be transferred from one medium to another. With the launch of the digital building application process in Leipzig, eleven other application and notification procedures can now also be handled completely digitally, including the notification of the start of construction or a change of use.

Uniform solutions for administrative processes

For registration and proof of identity, either the "BundID" or "Elster my company account" is required. Applications can be submitted not only via the construction portal, but also via the Saxon administration portal "Amt 24".

The state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern developed the "one-for-all solution" (EfA) for digital building administration, which is also used in numerous other federal states. Since the end of 2022, the Saxon Regional Development Ministry has been working with the lower building supervisory authorities to adapt EfA to the requirements of building administration in the Free State. The costs for this adaptation were borne by the federal government and Saxony.

Outlook for further digital processes

According to the city administration, 1,712 building applications were submitted in Leipzig last year, compared to 1,886 in the previous year. In future, other bureaucratic processes in Leipzig are also to be digitized, including applications for parental allowance, ID cards and registration and re-registration of residence.