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Amendment strengthens municipalities and property owners – planned to come into force in 2027
The state of Hesse aims to make historic preservation more practical, climate-friendly, and less bureaucratic. Minister of Art and Culture Timon Gremmels presented the key points of the planned amendment to the Hessian Historic Preservation Act. A draft bill is currently being prepared based on these points and is scheduled to be introduced to the state parliament in early 2026. The new law is expected to come into force on January 1, 2027 .
Faster procedures and digital applications
In the future, applications for historic preservation permits will digitally . Authorities must decide on these within three months; extensions of up to two months are only possible in exceptional cases. If no decision is made, the permit is considered granted. Furthermore, the register of historic monuments will be made digitally accessible . Standard measures can be exempted from the permit requirement by ordinance.
More responsibility on the ground
Local heritage conservation authorities will be given more responsibilities in the future. Decisions will primarily be made directly on site. The Hessian State Office for Heritage Preservation will remain the expert body, supporting municipalities in complex cases and being involved in particularly significant objects, UNESCO World Heritage sites, or funding procedures.
Fair rules for owners
A reasonableness rule is intended to ensure that historic preservation protection ends where no meaningful use is possible. Also new is the option to avoid recurring administrative procedures through contracts. Tax certificates will in future be available directly from the lower historic preservation authorities – a "one-stop shop" for property owners.
Climate protection, inclusion and disaster preparedness
The amendment enshrines the consideration of climate protection, renewable energies, and resource conservation in all procedures. Solar panels on listed buildings will generally remain eligible for approval. Accessibility at publicly accessible monuments will also be strengthened. Furthermore, the law establishes, for the first time, clear intervention options for disaster relief.
Reactions to the amendment
Minister Gremmels emphasized: “We are making processes faster and more digital, strengthening local responsibility, and systematically integrating climate protection. This will make the preservation of historical monuments more citizen-oriented and reliable.”
Representatives from business and local communities also expressed their approval.
- Thomas M. Reimann , president of the Association of Construction Companies, praised more transparency and fairer rules for owners.
- Dr. Thomas Spies , Mayor of Marburg, emphasized the greater consideration given to climate protection and inclusion.
- Patrick Krug , head of the building department of the Vogelsberg district, sees the reform as "an important step towards an unbureaucratic and modern monument protection law in Hesse".
(RED/PM)
