Engel & Völkers
  • 4 min read

Rezoning: What about fire protection and parking?

Office instead of restaurant? Gastronomy instead of retail? When a change of tenant is imminent, owners of a commercial unit sometimes think about letting another industry move in. But then a change of use must be applied for. What should owners know about this?

Because of the large number of guests and the often winding paths, catering establishments must be especially protected against fire. This is why the issue of fire protection is often a sticking point when changing from retail or office to restaurant or pub. For example, the creation of proper escape routes, the installation of a sprinkler system or the question of the fire load in the rooms can be challenging. Fire load refers to the amount and type of flammable objects in an area.

Restaurant needs more parking spaces than office

The parking situation also plays a major role in conversion. Depending on the federal state, about four times as many parking spaces are required for a so-called restaurant and accommodation business as for an office. This requirement can rarely be met without major effort.

When applying for a change of use, the type of restaurant planned is also important. Especially when it comes to clubs, bars or event gastronomy, the authorities take the local environment into account even more. If the surrounding area is dominated by purely residential properties, the change of use may be refused.

Change of use to office is considered easier

The reverse change of use - away from gastronomy and towards office or retail - is usually the easier route in terms of fire protection and parking spaces. However, even this type of conversion is not necessarily a no-brainer. After all, a large-scale conversion is often necessary. Then, in addition to the change of use, a building permit must also be applied for. Overall, however, this type of change of use is considered to have fewer hurdles.

You can find out more about this topic in our online guide to change of use. You will get an overview of all the necessary permits, find out what the case is if you are part of an owners' association, and get tips on drafting the tenancy agreement. (28.1.22)

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