Laws, regulations, ordinances & plans

When planning a building project, you have to take numerous specifications, regulations and planning principles into account. Here you will find an overview with the relevant contact persons:

Urban Planning & Spatial Planning

For urban planning questions about your building project in Innsbruck, the City Department Urban planning, mobility and integration is responsible.

The areas of responsibility of urban planning include

• Zoning
• Development plan
• the requirements of the local spatial planning concept(ÖROKO 2.0)
• Protection zones for historic areas
• Contents of specific urban planning studies
• urban planning boundary conditions for competitions
• Submissions to the expert advisory board or the Innsbruck Design Advisory Board (IGB)
• Preparation of integrated mobility concepts
• Securing the mobility objectives

Planning procedures currently underway (amendments to ÖROKO, zoning plan and development plan) can be found on the official notice board.

Planning regulations & by-laws

If you wish to build in Innsbruck, there are a number of requirements and regulations you must comply with:

• Tyrolean Spatial Planning Act (TROG)
• Tyrolean Building Regulations (TBO)
• Tyrolean Town and Village Conservation Act: if you are building in conservation areas
• Technical Building Regulations (TBV)
• OIB Guidelines 1–5, 2023 edition
• OIB Guideline 6, OIB Guideline on Definitions and OIB Guideline on Standards and Regulations, 2025 edition
• Technical Guidelines for Preventive Fire Protection (TRVB) (List of currently applicable guidelines)
• Building Documentation Regulation
• Energy Performance Certificate Template Act (EAVG)
• Tyrolean Gas, Heating and Air-Conditioning Act (TGHKG)
• Ö-Standards (subject to a fee)
• Motor Vehicle Parking Space Guideline
• Bicycle Parking Spaces Regulation
• Appendix to the Bicycle Parking Space Regulation
• Calculation Form for the Bicycle Parking Spaces Regulation
• Guidance on Property Accesses to Local Roads (Garages and Car Parks)
• Local Spatial Planning Concept 2.0
• Land-Use Zoning Plan
• Development Plan
• AGWR II Act
• Information Sheet on Children’s Play Areas and Ancillary Facilities
• Guidance Note on the Submission and Completion of Photovoltaic Systems

Possible further specifications:

• Monument protection
• Hazard register (torrent and avalanche control, landslide areas...)
• GIPSKARST areas
• Flood protection, spring and well protection...
• Nature conservation (protected landscape areas...)
• other utilisation restrictions

Car parking space guideline

• Car parking space guideline 2018 (Excel)
• Car parking space guideline 2026 (Excel)

Since 1 February 2026 , the Innsbruck Car Parking Space Guideline 2026 has been used in building procedures as a working aid for determining the parking space requirement.

The 2018 parking space guideline is still to be used for the assessment if the building application is received by 30 April 2026 and the 2026 parking space guideline would result in the prescription of a larger number of parking spaces in the building process.

On the interactive map you will find the centrality and public transport quality values required for the calculation:

1. You can enter and select the address of your property location in the "Address search" search field at the top left.
2. By clicking on the desired location, a pop-up appears with the relevant centrality and public transport quality values.
3. You can display the legend and export the map section as a PDF, PNG or JPG using the buttons at the top right.

Principles of building law

As a matter of principle, building structures may only be erected on plots of land which are suitable for the intended development in terms of their dedication, location, shape, size and soil conditions and which have a legally secured connection to a public traffic area in accordance with the intended use - see the Guide to Plot Accesses on Municipal Roads (Garages and Parking Lots).

Buildings and structures shall be located on lots to provide safe access and to ensure effective use of firefighting and rescue equipment.

The properties must also have a water and energy supply and disposal of wastewater and precipitation water appropriate to the intended use - see Water Law Permit.

Water law

Who is responsible for enforcing water law in the provincial capital, Innsbruck?

The Service Unit Building, water and plant law is, in the first instance, responsible for the enforcement of water law in the provincial capital of Innsbruck, alongside the Federal Minister for Agriculture, Forestry, the Environment and Water Management and the Governor of Tyrol. In administrative proceedings, the department therefore deals in particular with site drainage (infiltration of rainwater), groundwater utilisation, dewatering during construction, structures in riparian or flood discharge areas, and flood protection measures. In addition, the department also carries out remediation procedures following incidents of contamination.

What legal framework must be observed?

The fundamental objectives of water management are set out in the EU Water Framework Directive. The national implementation of the Water Framework Directive is governed by the Water Rights Act (WRG), which is uniformly regulated at federal level, and by the regulations based on it. In addition to the regulations on quality objectives for groundwater and surface waters, these include, in particular, the accompanying regulation to the National Water Management Plan (NGP) and the regulation on the remediation of watercourses. In addition to the legal requirements, guidelines and information sheets provide important recommendations.

What is the aim of the water law provisions?

All water bodies must be kept clean so that the health of humans and animals is not endangered. Groundwater and spring water should be suitable for use as drinking water. Surface waters should be available for public use and commercial purposes. Fishing waters must be preserved. Everyone is obliged to construct, maintain and operate installations, or to behave in such a way, as to prevent water pollution.

Building construction and fire protection (building and fire police)

• Mechanical strength and stability (statics):
  OIB Guideline 1: Structures must have sufficient load-bearing capacity, serviceability and durability to absorb the actions to which the structure is subjected and to transfer them to the ground.
• Fire protection:
  OIB Guideline 2: This OIB Guideline specifies requirements for the fire behaviour and fire resistance of construction products according to European standardized classes.
• Hygiene, health and environmental protection:
  OIB Guideline 3: The requirements for hygiene, health and environmental protection must be complied with.
• Safety in use and accessibility:
  OIB Guideline 4: The requirements for safety in use and accessibility must be complied with during the construction of certain building projects.
• Sound insulation:
  OIB Guideline 5: Buildings and parts of buildings that are used for prolonged occupancy by people and whose use in accordance with their intended purpose results in a requirement for quiet must comply with the guideline. This includes in particular residential buildings, hostels, office buildings, accommodation facilities, schools, kindergartens, hospitals, buildings for religious purposes, etc.
• Energy saving and thermal insulation:
  In addition to OIB Guideline 6 on requirements for the thermal-energetic quality of buildings, the Tyrolean Building Code (TBO) and the Technical Building Regulations (TBV) must be complied with. They generally regulate the energy performance of the various construction measures. In the construction process, the requirements must be verified by the energy performance certificate (EPC) or the U-value of individual components. An overview of when an energy performance certificate is required and which energy parameters must be met can be found in the table overview on overall energy efficiency and the requirement for an energy performance certificate published by the state's general construction department.
• Use of highly efficient alternative heating systems:
  According to the Tyrolean Building Regulations (TBO), new buildings must be checked to see whether a high-efficiency alternative heating system can be used sensibly. The test must be enclosed with the building documents. Energie Tirol provides its own form for checking alternatives. If a system with non-renewable energy sources is selected despite the existence of sensible alternatives, this can lead to the building application being rejected. Alternative heating systems include
  1. Systems based on renewable sources (pellets, etc.)
  2. Combined heat and power plants (use and utilization of heat generated during production processes)
  3. District or local heating systems or district or local cooling systems from renewable sources
  4. Heat pumps (heat source: groundwater, grounddreor air)
• Event venues:
  The construction, modification or conversion of an event venue is subject to special requirements with regard to the currently applicable OIB guidelines such as fire protection, safety of use, accessibility or sound insulation. Events in buildings are therefore only permitted if certain requirements are met.
• Building and Housing Register (AGWR):
  Once the building permit has been issued, certain data is determined in accordance with the AGWR II Act and recorded in GWR-Online. The data must be provided by the building applicant. Here you will find the relevant form for the construction of a new building.

Business & Operating Facilities

If you regularly conduct business or commercial activities in a facility, such as a building, you may need to apply for a business facility permit for that facility. A business facility permit or business facility alteration permit may also be required if you are constructing, altering or adding to a new building.

Road traffic & road law

• Permission for construction on or next to the road
• Traffic routing for construction sites

Civil Engineering

• For the construction of property access roads, garages and parking lots with connection to the public road network, the approval of the road administrator is required: Guide to property access roads (garages & parking lots)

Excavation work

Excavation work within the city limits of Innsbruck must be reported to the Office for Road Operations. The office then carries out inspections and, after completion, the acceptance. Excavation work usually involves municipal land. Therefore, you also need the authorisation of the City of Innsbruck to carry out the work. The Service Unit Real estate matters is responsible for this.

Real estate matters

In the case of construction water stops, excavation work, pipe laying work and additional property access roads in the area of influence of the public road network, you need the approval of the road keeper and the landowner. This is usually the city of Innsbruck. Please apply in good time, as the departments concerned have to be involved and conditions for the permission have to be obtained. You can find more information on civil law permits under"Contracts with the City of Innsbruck".

As-built plans and nature status map

Existing building plans

• Building plans: When planning alterations to existing buildings, as-built plans are usually required. In Service Unit Building inspection and building physics section, most of the existing building plans are available on film or as scanned copies. To obtain copies of plans (e.g. floor plans), you will need the written consent of the owner.
• You can obtainutility layout plans from the relevant utility companies, e.g. Innsbrucker Kommunalbetriebe, Telekom Austria, TIGAS, etc.

Topographic Map

The topographic map is a precise digital representation of Innsbruck’s buildings, addresses and place names. It is produced by Service Unit Surveying and geoinformation using terrestrial surveying.

The topographic map forms the basis for a wide range of planning activities and is available at scales of 1:1,000, 1:10,000 and 1:25,000. It is available for download in various formats:

Resident charges

When do I pay residents' charges?

The City of Innsbruck levies a contribution to the costs of the new construction or extension of a building:

• traffic development,
• and the construction of pavements.

If a building applicant is also exempt from the construction of a children's playground or parking spaces, the City of Innsbruck levies a compensatory levy.

To calculate the amount of this levy, Service Unit Municipal levies - advance payment receives the necessary data from Service Unit Building inspection and building physics The Service Unit Municipal levies - advance payment checks this data and uses it to prepare the assessment notice.

How high are the residents' charges?

The rates from January 2026 are:

• Development contribution rate: 23.10 euros
• Pavement contribution rate: 4 euros
• Compensatory levy for the allowance of an above-ground parking space: 7,100 euros
• Compensatory levy for an underground car park or parking deck: 21,300 euros
• Compensatory levy for the allowance of a children's playground in residential complexes with:
  • 7 to 12 flats: 6,125 euros
  • 13 to 24 flats: 12,250 euros
  • 25 to 50 flats: 18,376 euros
  • more than 50 flats: 30,626 euros

Leisure residence tax

Information on the leisure residence tax can be found here: Leisure residence tax

Vacancy tax

Information on the vacancy tax can be found here: Vacancy Levy

Land Transactions

The Tyrolean Land Transactions Act (TGVG) governs the acquisition of rights:

• in agricultural and forestry land,
• in undeveloped building plots, and
• in addition, to developed plots and other plots of land, provided that the purchaser is a foreign national.

Please note: The Tyrolean Provincial Government has, amongst others, designated Innsbruck by order of 20 July 2022, LGBl. No. 71/2022, as a ‘reserved municipality’ pursuant to Section 14(1) of the Tyrolean Land Transactions Act 1996. This means that, upon the entry into force of the regulation, legal transactions involving developed plots of land (including all those subject to flat ownership) must be declared to the Land Transactions Authority in accordance with Section 14a of the Tyrolean Land Transactions Act 1996 or notified in accordance with Section 23 of the same Act.

In the Innsbruck-Stadt district, please submit notifications under the Tyrolean Land Transactions Act or applications under the Tyrolean Farm Act via the online ‘Land Transactions Submission’ form. A simplified online form is available for processing contracts relating to properties where flat ownership has been established (Section 14a declarations).

Default settings can be saved as a template. This means that data fields such as the name, address and telephone number of a solicitor’s practice do not need to be entered for every notification. Please attach the required supporting documents, such as the contract, proof of citizenship, etc. (preferably as PDF files), to the form.

To submit any missing documents at a later date, please use the ‘Subsequent Submissions for Land Transactions’ form.

You will find information on how to complete the form in the guidance notes. For further information, please refer to the numerous labelled info buttons [i] on the form.

Land-use designation confirmations

You can find more information on land-use designation confirmations here.