ᐅ Is it possible to copy building plans, or does that cause legal issues?

Hello

I own a large older multi-family house and plan to sell it this spring to buy a smaller, fully renovated house.

However, I am now considering the possibility of building a new house instead.

I have a very good friend whose newly built house I really like! Legally, would it be possible to simply copy all the building plans for his house and use them for myself, or would there be legal issues with his architect or engineering firm that created the plans?

shaftie schrieb:
Would it be legally possible to simply copy the entire set of building plans for someone else’s house and use them for myself?

Using the plans is legally different from duplicating them.

I am assuming a standard house—then you might be able to use the floor plan. Custom architectural designs that are easily recognizable: no way.

The building plans are useless to you because each plan is created specifically for a particular plot of land, as is the structural engineering. The building permit/planning permission is also “personalized.”

Since you will never have the exact same plot of land, you cannot simply "copy" a house. However, you can go to an architect and explain exactly what you like about it.

Your plan is definitely not feasible, and many people before you have had the same idea ;-)

ypg schrieb:
Using is legally different from copying.

I’m assuming a standard house, in which case you can use the floor plan. Custom architect designs with distinctive features: no-go.

The building plans are useless for you since each plan is created for a specific plot of land, just like the structural calculations. The building application/permitting is also “personalized.”

Okay, thanks for that! So the house doesn’t have a basement, and if both plots are flat or even adjacent on the same property, should everything be transferable? Or at least from the foundation slab onwards?

If the same house is just being adapted to a new plot of land, why hire an architect? That seems like pearls before swine or money thrown in the trash.

Any builder should be able to handle that. Recalculate the structural engineering, adjust the site levels if necessary, and that’s it. At least if we are really talking about copying here.

Fuchur schrieb:
If the same house is just being adapted to a new plot, why hire an architect? That seems like a waste of effort and money.

Any building contractor should be able to handle that. Recalculate the structural calculations, adjust the site elevations if necessary, and that’s it. At least if we’re really talking about copying here.

And who submits the building permit / planning permission? Who signs off on the structural calculations? And so on.

Best regards