Hi,
Just bought an apartment in Zurich with a 70sqm backyard. Planning to do lot of work on that backyard.

Plan is something like above. Today there is nothing there. What am I allowed to do? Do you usually ask the neighbours for permission? Authorities?

Thx for help

by Candid-Shop-9537

11 comments
  1. Not sure how much work this entails but I’d ask local authorities (Gemeinde).

    Usually, this becomes public then anyway (=Baugenehmigung, mit einer Einsprachefrist).

  2. generally is a fence/wall on the border to the neighbour always a topic where you’d need to ask for a permit or keep under a soecific height limit.

    i’m sure there are some “Merkblätter” regarding this topic in your community.

    however, if you’d need to rent a mini digger, that fits through doors, hmu 😬

  3. Walls may be the problem there. You can get gemeinde to OK it, but have a chat with your neighbours first as that is the most usual problem. If you can get their OK with the fence type and height, then you won’t have issues.

  4. Make sure that when you remove the grass / free space and put permanent flooring that it doesn’t violate rules such the GFZ and co

  5. The pergola needs a construction permit. The fences look higher than 80cm, thus they will also need a construction permit. [Source](https://www.stadt-zuerich.ch/de/planen-und-bauen/baubewilligungen/fragen-antworten.html#bewilligungspflicht)

    Potentially also the neighbours approval could (and IMHO likely is, but i’m not too familiar with the situation in Zurich) be necessary if mandated minimum distances to the parcel border are not met.

    The city offers [free consultations with the experts](https://www.stadt-zuerich.ch/de/planen-und-bauen/bauberatung-und-dienstleistungen/bauberatung/bauten-anlagen/baurechtliche-beratung.html), who can likely give you detailed information about the process and about what you could do without a permit.

    Edit: If this is an apartment in a “Stockwerkeigentum” (STWE), you need to follow ALL the rules of the “Stockwerkeigentümergemeinschaft”. The problem with a garden in STWE is that you don’t actually own the garden (like you “own” the inside of your apartment), but just have an exclusively granted usage of (parts of) the common garden. That usage is by default (unless you have specific approval by the STWE assembly or through the “Reglement”) rather restricted, you can by default “use” the garden (like put chairs there or a non fixed kids pool), but you cannot really “change” the garden (like modifications, putting plants, etc.) By law, in STWE, you can never own the garden individually. Any modification of the garden thus needs the other owners approval (either by individual assembly decision for your case (or which was given to the previous owner), or by a previous more generic type of assembly decision that is part of the “Reglement” or a “Gartenordnung” or similar). [Source](https://www.hev-winterthur.ch/ratgeber/was-ist-mit-dem-garten-im-stockwerkeigentum/)

    Edit 2: From the linked article (translated):

    >The placement of flowerpots, garden furniture, and a portable parasol, as well as the use of a portable barbecue, are permitted. However, any design interventions and structural changes are prohibited without the express consent (by resolution or in the regulations) of the condominium association. These include, for example, digging up the lawn to create flowerbeds or to replace it with another surface (e.g., gravel or paving stones), expanding or reducing the size of the garden seating area, installing a permanently anchored swimming pool, playground equipment, or parabolic mirrors and radio antennas, planting or removing shrubs or trees, creating a biotope, constructing a garden shed, and any type of fencing (hedge or fence).

  6. Lol is that a rooftop and u think u can just put a pool, groundcover and a tree? Lmao my dude u need an architect

  7. 1. I have to say, I find it interesting. It could have come straight from IKEA, where every corner has its own theme.
    2. It looks clean and tidy. But I get the feeling that the picture was taken when everything was new and thus in pristine condition.
    3. How do you get from the front to the back? Do you climb up over the lounge bank?
    4. That pool seems far too shallow. It’s probably more for children.
    5. The plant/tree in the middle is still young. Imagine what it will look like when it has grown. It could take up all the space and block the path from the front to the back.
    6. The wood will probably get grey overtime. This will look horrible resulting in a grey mess.

  8. You got to get a Bauaufgabe from your Gemeinde for extensive work in the garden. If you enlist a local gardener or contractor for the work, you can ask them to take care of the Bauaufgabe. And even if the Gemeinde says, you can work on ur garden and we dont need to get permission, get that also in writing by submitting your plan.

  9. This looks designed for a very different climate tbh, don’t forget that everything that isn’t covered will be exposed to heavy rain, snow and ice as well, not just sunshine every single day and night

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