Saxony wants to simplify building regulations

Against the backdrop of a tense situation in the construction industry, Saxony's Ministry of Infrastructure has announced a simplification of building regulations. "When money becomes tighter, we have to sharpen our technical focus," said State Secretary Sören Trillenberg at the opening of the HAUS construction trade fair in Dresden. The aim is to make building easier, faster and more affordable without compromising quality.

More than 400 exhibitors at the Dresden construction trade fair

According to the organizers, more than 400 exhibitors will be presenting their products and services for new construction, renovation and building technology at the trade fair until Sunday. Topics include energy efficiency, renewable energies such as photovoltaics, storage systems and heat pumps, as well as sustainable building materials and digital planning processes.

Trillenberg pointed to high construction and financing costs, a shortage of skilled workers and long approval procedures as a burden for building owners and companies. At the same time, the demand for affordable housing and modernization of existing buildings remains high.

An amendment to the Saxon building code planned

According to the State Secretary, the Ministry of Infrastructure is preparing an amendment to the Saxon building code. "Our aim is to remove or simplify excessive requirements and make processes in the authorities more efficient," said Trillenberg. Saxony wants to create a building climate that promotes investment and makes planning more reliable.

In parallel, the ministry is pushing ahead with digital building permits. It should be possible to submit and track building applications completely digitally. According to the ministry, all 42 lower building supervisory authorities are already connected. The aim is for digital building applications to be possible for all applicants in the state by summer 2026.

Significantly fewer approved building applications

The pressure is high: according to the State Statistical Office, the number of approved building applications has fallen significantly in recent years - from 6,088 in 2020 to 2,726 in 2024. For 2025, monthly data published so far indicates a slight recovery to 2,998.