The status of digital and BIM-based building permitting in Germany: evidence from a nationwide survey of building authorities

The digital transformation of building permitting is advancing worldwide, with electronic permitting systems and Building Information Modeling (BIM) increasingly discussed as means to improve administrative efficiency, transparency, and data-driven review processes. However, empirical evidence on the current implementation status and organizational readiness of German building authorities remains limited. This study provides a nationwide baseline assessment of digital and BIM-based building permitting in Germany based on a survey of building authority employees. The survey examines digital submission capabilities, internal processing practices, BIM-related knowledge and training needs, perceived benefits and barriers, and expectations regarding future BIM-based permitting. The results show that digital submission is gaining traction among German building authorities, although many workflows remain hybrid and continue to rely on paper-based processing steps. While 47.3% of the participating authorities reported digital submission capabilities, no authority reported the availability of BIM-based permit submission. The findings further indicate limited BIM experience and training among authority staff, alongside substantial perceived needs for technical infrastructure, funding, staffing, and capacity building. Overall, the study offers a reference point for assessing current maturity and monitoring future progress in the digitalization of building permitting in Germany.