Potsdam starts digital building authority: building applications now online!

Potsdam starts digital building authority: building applications now online!

Potsdam, Deutschland - Potsdam has taken the next step towards digital future: From July 14, 2025, builders can submit their buildings to the new “Virtual Building Authority” entirely online. The annoying journey to the office is a thing of the past. The procedure is now handled digitally, which not only saves time, but also resources. Building department Bernd Rubelt praises the innovation and emphasizes that this makes the processes for applicants more transparent and faster. Registration in the state portal (https://vba.brandenburg.de) is a prerequisite for access.

This innovative process is the result of a pilot project that was originally started in the Oberspreewald-Lausitz district. Thanks to the successful test phase, builders can now look forward to efficient processing of their requirements. The entire building permit process becomes digital, and this aims at the aim of significantly shortening the procedure and making communication with the building supervisory authority secure and standardized. The digital introduction of public issues is also intended, which is supported by the XBAU standard.

sustainability and transparency in the focus

A paperless procedure is aimed at, which is not only ecologically sensible, but also corresponds to the nationwide trend for mandatory digital application. The decline in paper consumption and the reduction of approaches and mail shipping are further plus points that are important to the city administration. The data protection, it is emphasized, is of course guaranteed.

Before that there was often criticism of the long processes in the Potsdam building management. With this digitization strategy, a clear step is now being taken in the right direction. Potsdam is part of a number of successful online services, such as digital marriages and electronic residence registration. The city administration wants to continue to work to modernize their services and make it more efficient.

A look at the construction industry

Another aspect of digitization in the construction industry was examined in more detail in the “Digital Construction Management” (DICOMA) project, which ended on April 30, 2023. Numerous challenges were analyzed here with which the industry is confronted with digital change. In particular, the need for further training and the guarantee of data quality in software solutions are several central topics. According to an interview study with representatives of the construction industry, however, the advantages of digitization are undisputed: more efficient construction through optimized processes and better cooperation are at the top of the list of positive effects.

Overall, it can be seen that digitization in Potsdam and the construction industry is an issue that not only has opportunities, but also numerous challenges. However, the city administration and the industry are well positioned in order to take this path together and to make the future of the building administration sustainable.

For more information, interested parties can be found the detailed reports on the websites of Tagesspiegel , Potsdam.de , as well as Fraunhofer iese read.