Comparative study on building permit processes in Europe

Abstract

The issuance of building permits is a crucial process for urban development in accordance with the law and sustainability goals. Building permits in Europe involve a complex tapestry of processes, regulations, and methodologies. Despite its critical role in shaping the urban landscape, detailed investigations of building permitting process have been scarce. This gap in knowledge not only hinders the optimization of these processes but also limits the potential for digital transformation, a key step in modernizing administrative functions. The report aims to fill the gap through a comparative analysis of building permitting processes in 19 European countries. By delving into complexities, the objective is to establish a foundation for enhancing process efficiency and fostering a holistic perspective in Europe. This information can contribute to the formulation of more effective policies and inspire providers to develop improved solutions and practices. The adopted methodology involves, in the initial phase, data collection through conducting interviews directly with expert individuals employed in municipalities. The same interview guideline, based on previous studies, was employed to ensure the consistency and quality of the collected data. Following a data preparation phase, the data evaluation consisted in adopting a qualitative analysis approach of the transcribed text using a shared coding scheme. This allowed for the generation of generalized process maps, for each building permit authority to identify commonalities and variations. To ensure the validity, reliability, and triangulation of the results, a comprehensive approach was adopted, incorporating consistent interview guidelines, multiple interviewers, a unified coding system, peer debriefing, member checking, and collaborative efforts within the research team. The study underlines key differences in compliance procedures, approaches to risk management, and the roles of various authorities. Furthermore, our study highlights the challenges of standardizing these processes across regions, while also recognizing limitations in data representation and potential biases. The report aims to contribute to the field by uniformly modelling building permitting processes. It enables future studies, aiming to optimize the process and to develop solutions that can more effectively meet the needs of municipalities and regulatory authorities across Europe.