Guide · Zurich building projects
Zurich building projects: request service of the decision
In Zurich, requesting service of the building decision and challenging it are separate steps. Check the municipality’s notice and the decision’s appeal instructions.
In short
- In ordinary public-inspection proceedings, request service of the building decision within 20 days of publication (§ 315 PBG).
- A Zustellbegehren is not an appeal. Missing the request period forfeits appeal rights (§ 316 PBG); check case-specific exceptions.
- Procedure and filing method depend on the file and municipality. Do not assume an ordinary email is sufficient.
- Publicus alerts do not preserve rights or change deadlines.
1. Check the notice and plans
The local building authority is the first contact. Distinguish ordinary proceedings, Anzeigeverfahren and Meldeverfahren: public-inspection rules differ. Record file number, address, parcel and dates.
2. File the notification request in time
Zollikon specifies a 20-day inspection period (§ 315 PBG) and forfeiture of appeal rights if the request is late (§ 316 PBG). Explicitly request service of the decision for the identified project and retain confirmation.
Zollikon requires electronic filing through eBaugesucheZH for new files, with a written exception for applications filed before 7 August 2025 or their amendments. Check your own municipality: this example is not a universal filing rule.
3. Watch electronic service
In Zollikon a one-off electronic notification announces the decision’s availability. Service occurs on first retrieval, no later than the seventh day after availability (§ 328d PBG). Leaving it unread does not automatically stop a deadline.
4. Check remedies and costs
A Zustellbegehren obtains the decision; it is not a reasoned objection or appeal. On receipt read the appeal instructions for the authority, period, standing and form applicable to the file.
Zollikon states CHF 50 for service of the building decision. This is a local administrative fee, not a universal appeal cost. Further costs or advances may apply. General information, not legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
Is a notification request an objection?
No. It requests the decision; a formal challenge is a separate step.
Will an ordinary email suffice?
Not necessarily. Follow the file and municipality’s instructions, including electronic filing.
Can I wait for the daily digest?
No. Consult the official notice and dates. Neighbour tracks one address or parcel, not all projects nearby.
Official sources
Follow an address or parcel with Neighbour
CHF 1/month, billed annually at CHF 12/year. One address or parcel, one included canton and a daily digest. Targeted monitoring does not replace official consultation or monitor every project in your neighbourhood.
Related reading
Informational content, not legal advice. Publicus is not the official source within the meaning of the law: the text published by the authority prevails, and deadlines run from the official publication.