Applying for building encumbrance information (Baulastenauskunft) in Essen
Baulastenauskunft in Essen: the city's Geoportal shows free of charge, without guarantee, whether a plot is encumbered. Written information comes from the building regulation office at Lindenallee 10: 30 euros per property without encumbrance, otherwise 50 euros per encumbrance, at most 200 euros. We apply for 42.90 euros including the fee without encumbrance.
Baulastenverzeichnis Essen: fees and office
- Responsible office
- Stadt Essen, Baulasten, Registratur, Bauaktenarchiv (Amt für Stadtplanung und Bauordnung)As of: 26.10.2026 · Stadt Essen
- Address
- Deutschlandhaus, Lindenallee 10, 45127 Essen · baulasten@essen.de · visits by appointment onlyAs of: 26.10.2026 · Stadt Essen
- Official fee
- 30 € per property without encumbrance · 50 € per registered encumbrance, at most 200 € per propertyAs of: 26.10.2026 · Stadt Essen
- How to apply
- informal application by post, fax or email · since 28.09.2026 also via Bauportal.NRWAs of: 26.10.2026 · Stadt Essen
All details (4)Show less
- Check in advance
- Geoportal: free, updated weekly, non-binding and without guarantee
- Legitimate interest
- state a legitimate interest · owners and their authorised representatives generally have one
- Processing time
- not published by the city of Essen
- Behördenfix fixed price
- 42.90 € including the fee for a property without encumbrance
The information with Behördenfix
- 1Identify the propertyGemarkung, Flur and parcel in Essen, or else the address.
- 2Upload the power of attorneyAs owner you sign our power of attorney, otherwise your proof.
- 3Pay the fixed priceThe 30 euros for a property without encumbrance are included.
- 4Application to EssenWe file the written application and forward the information to you.
Applying yourself to the city of Essen
The way without us, step by step
The city of Essen accepts the application informally. Without us, you proceed as follows:
- Check for free first: in the city's Geoportal, plots without colour are not encumbered, green ones certainly are; for orange ones an encumbrance is possible. The data is updated weekly; the query is non-binding.
- For data protection reasons, the Geoportal does not show what an encumbrance contains. That needs the written information.
- Informal application with Gemarkung, Flur and parcel and a reason for your legitimate interest, by post to Lindenallee 10, by fax or by email to baulasten@essen.de.
- Since 28 September 2026 Essen has been connected to Bauportal.NRW, which offers a uniform statewide online application for information from the register of building encumbrances.
- Costs yourself: 30 euros per property without encumbrance, 50 euros per registered encumbrance, at most 200 euros per property. With us you pay 42.90 euros including the fee for a property without encumbrance; if the Geoportal shows an encumbrance, we tell you the extra amount before payment.
Details the application needs
- Gemarkung, Flur and parcel number; they appear, for example, in the land register or on the cadastral map.
- A short reason for your legitimate interest in the information.
More documents (2)Show less
- As owner: proof of ownership. For prospective buyers: the owner's declaration of consent; the Bauportal provides a form for this.
- For our order: your power of attorney, so that we can act as your representative.
What is special in Essen
Fee by number of encumbrances
The city of Essen charges per property in the land register sense, not per parcel. Without encumbrance the information costs 30 euros, with encumbrances 50 euros per entry, capped at 200 euros.
More about Essen (3)Show less
An example under the city's fee rule: a property has three encumbrances, which makes 150 euros. With five it would be 250 euros, but the city charges at most 200 euros. A property can consist of several parcels and still counts once.
In Düsseldorf the information without encumbrance also costs 30 euros, but with encumbrance 50 to 150 euros per parcel. In Köln (Cologne) a no-encumbrance certificate is available online for 15 euros.
New since 28 September 2026 is the application via Bauportal.NRW. The free Geoportal has existed since December 2023; according to the city, it only shows whether an encumbrance exists, not its content.
Questions about building encumbrance information in Essen
How do I apply for information from the register of building encumbrances in Essen?
Informally to the city of Essen, Baulasten, Lindenallee 10. The application names Gemarkung, Flur and parcel and gives the reason for your legitimate interest. Send it by post, fax or email to baulasten@essen.de. Since 28 September 2026, a uniform online application via Bauportal.NRW is also possible.
How much does building encumbrance information cost in Essen?
If no encumbrance is registered, the city of Essen charges 30 euros per property. With registered encumbrances it is 50 euros per encumbrance, but at most 200 euros per property. With us the information for a property without encumbrance costs 42.90 euros including the fee; we state any extra amount before payment.
Who may inspect the register of building encumbrances?
Anyone who states a legitimate interest. According to Bauportal.NRW, owners, their authorised representatives and publicly appointed surveyors generally have this interest. Prospective buyers enclose the owner's declaration of consent. Whether a plot is encumbered, however, anyone can see for free in the city of Essen's Geoportal.
Can I check for free beforehand whether an encumbrance exists?
Yes, in the city of Essen's Geoportal. Plots without colour are not encumbered, green ones certainly are, orange ones possibly. The data is updated weekly; the query is free but non-binding and without guarantee. The Geoportal does not show the content of an encumbrance; that needs the written information.
Where can I inspect the building file in Essen?
At the city of Essen's building file archive, in the same unit as the register: Deutschlandhaus, Lindenallee 10, 45127 Essen. According to the service portal, visits only by prior appointment. The city's phone directory lists contacts. File inspection is a separate service.
Official sources
- Stadt Essen – Baulastenverzeichnis (Dienstleistung), read on 26.10.2026
- Stadt Essen – Pressemeldung: Baulasteninformationen online abrufbar (12.12.2023), read on 26.10.2026
- Bauportal.NRW – Antrag auf Auskunft aus dem Baulastverzeichnis, read on 26.10.2026
- Stadt Essen – Einrichtung Baulasten, Registratur, Bauaktenarchiv, read on 26.10.2026
Reviewed by M. Gabal on 26.10.2026
Provided by Behördenfix (M. Gabal). Behördenfix files the application on your behalf and forwards the information. We do not give legal advice and do not assess your individual case.