ᐅ Identifying Utility Connections Around the House

Hello dear forum,

A few months ago, we fulfilled our dream of owning a home. We moved in recently and still have quite a bit to do.

My question: We plan to completely renovate the outdoor area. This means:
- Removing the asphalt driveway and then paving it
- Removing the concrete “terrace” at the back of the house and creating a really nice terrace
Privacy fence and much more.

My concern now is that when we start this work, we might come across some utility lines.
Unfortunately, the previous owner did not have any documents showing where these are located.
Where can I request such information?
Are there archives or records at the local municipality that can provide this info?
I would be very grateful for helpful answers.
Thank you in advance and I wish you all a pleasant evening.

As a rule, you can request current wiring plans from your respective network providers.

Well, only the lines that have been officially recorded are shown there. This is common for gas pipes, for example. If he installed the sewage, water, and electrical lines himself (which is quite common), these are naturally not marked on the plans.

In our case, the wastewater pipe on private property must also be submitted for approval and can thus be inspected by the local authority. All other utility lines are planned by the respective providers and must be implemented exactly as planned.

At the very least, the providers can give you the locations of the connection points at the property boundary, while you will know the location of the house entry point yourself. There is usually little detour between these points.

Well, the question is how long this regulation has been in place and whether it has ever been changed. Basically, you need to be cautious. It’s a bit of a gamble. Keep funds set aside for possible repairs.

Haus_käufer schrieb:

Regarding my question: We plan to completely renovate the outdoor area. This means:
- Removing the asphalt driveway and then paving it
- Removing the concrete "patio" at the back of the house and building a really nice terrace
Privacy fence and much more.

That sounds like mostly surface-level work. Usually, no utility lines are involved there.

Or do you plan to excavate deeply?