20.11.2025 - Two years after the joint decision by federal and state governments on the so-called Acceleration Pact for faster planning and approval procedures, it becomes clear: The federal states have in recent months made some efforts to modernize their building regulations and expedite approval processes. However, according to a recent analysis by the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK), no federal state has so far fully implemented all the agreed measures in the construction sector.

"There is still much to do," emphasizes Achim Dercks, Deputy CEO of the DIHK. "Even though all states are basically on the right track, the pace of implementation is significantly lacking."

The DIHK analysis shows that so far just over half of the procedural rules agreed upon in the Federal-State Pact have been incorporated into the respective state building codes. Clever implementation by the states could also tap further acceleration potentials.

According to the DIHK analysis, around two-thirds of all regulations could still be optimized. This is particularly true for shorter procedural deadlines, for which there are already good examples. Other federal states should take these as a model: Baden-Württemberg, Hamburg, and Berlin, for example, have reduced the deadline for an approval decision to one month. Most federal states still prescribe three months. Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Saxony, on the other hand, completely waive an approval procedure for roof expansions with dormers or balconies.

"Special regulations in federal law alone are not sufficient for a real construction boost," Dercks continues. "We also need comprehensive simplifications in all state building codes. The states must act significantly faster here."