ᐅ Forwarding building plans to a neighbor?

Hello,

we recently had discussions with the neighbors to collect signatures for the building permit / planning permission application. We are not deviating from the development plan (site plan exemption), but we still obtained the signatures because our architect recommended it. Now, during a visit where we presented the plan to the neighbors, one neighbor asked if they could have a copy of the building plan. I said I could send it to them digitally, but now I’m not sure if I should really do that. However, you also don’t want to make yourself unpopular right away. How would you handle this? Are there good reasons not to share the full plan? Maybe just send the exterior elevations without the floor layout?

Just ask him first what he needs it for and exactly what he wants.

- Exterior views?
- Complete building documents?
- Site plan with marked exterior dimensions
...

You can also refuse based on the architect’s copyright. He simply doesn’t want his plans to be shared.

He only mentioned this when we presented the plan for signature review. Whether he can take a picture without a specific reason—just to have it, possibly for future use, I suppose. The complete building plan was as it was submitted to the local authority (building department / planning office).

Bierwächter schrieb:

Just to have it

Some people like to keep everything. There is a reason for that.
What if you deviate slightly from the building plan – the inspector can hold you to it and say they would not have approved that. It can only lead to trouble, not benefit anyone.

I would try to find a way to avoid conflict without offending them, and handle it through the architect’s work/documentation.

There’s no way around it: the architect holds the copyright and says no... even though you never really asked them in the first place. It could also be that relatives of the neighbor are looking for inspiration and want to avoid paying for the expensive architect.

Invite him once more for a coffee and explain what concerns you. It’s understandable that you don’t want to entrust your personal house building plan to others by default. Maybe he can explain his interest in more detail, and the issue will be completely resolved.