Lower Austria simplifies building code to boost homeownership

A new building code in Lower Austria aims to make homeownership more accessible by simplifying renovations and expansions. The updated regulations, effective March 1, 2026, prioritize existing building standards for renovations of structures built before 2015, reducing costs and complexity. The fee for insufficient parking spaces has also been eliminated. The changes also allow for rebuilding structures in their original form and height after demolition, and permit a third full story, potentially lowering rents and revitalizing town centers.