# Building Code Requirements in Nordrhein-Westfalen North Rhine-Westphalia's BauO NRW is one of only two Länder that spells out exact guard-height figures in statute — plus its 2.40 m room height, Abstandsflächen and 30 m² garage rule. - Canonical HTML: https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/de/nw/ - Publisher: Chippy Tools - Language: en - Updated: 2026-09-13 [Browse all topics](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/topics/)[Free web tools](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/tools/)[Printable references](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/printables/) [All countries](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/) [Germany](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/de/) Topics Stairs - [German Stair Rules: DIN 18065 Rise, Going & Guard Heights](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/de/stairs/stair-and-guard-requirements/) Footings - [Does Germany Have a Fixed Foundation Depth?](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/de/footings/foundation-depth-and-footings/) Room heights - [Minimum Room Height by Bundesland: Germany Land by Land](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/de/room-heights-by-bundesland/) - [Does Germany Have a National Minimum Room Height?](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/de/rooms/minimum-room-heights/) Ramps - [German Ramp Gradients: DIN 18040-2 Accessible Ramp Rules](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/de/ramps/ramp-gradients/) Wet areas - [German Wet-Room Waterproofing: Check DIN and Land Rules](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/de/wet-areas/waterproofing-requirements/) By Land - [Brandenburg](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/de/bb/) - [Berlin](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/de/be/) - [Baden-Württemberg](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/de/bw/) - [Bayern](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/de/by/) - [Bremen](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/de/hb/) - [Hessen](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/de/he/) - [Hamburg](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/de/hh/) - [Mecklenburg-Vorpommern](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/de/mv/) - [Niedersachsen](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/de/ni/) - [Nordrhein-Westfalen](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/de/nw/) - [Rheinland-Pfalz](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/de/rp/) - [Schleswig-Holstein](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/de/sh/) - [Saarland](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/de/sl/) - [Sachsen](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/de/sn/) - [Sachsen-Anhalt](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/de/st/) - [Thüringen](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/de/th/) Calculation guides - [Concrete Calculations: The Complete On-Site Guide](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/concrete/concrete-calculations-guide/) - [How to Calculate Concrete Volume for a Slab](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/concrete/concrete-volume-slab/) - [How Many Bags of Concrete Per m³? (20kg, 25kg, 40kg)](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/concrete/bags-of-concrete-per-m3/) - [Concrete for Post Holes: Volume Per Hole & Bags Needed](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/concrete/concrete-post-holes/) - [Concrete Mix Ratios Explained: 1:2:3, 1:2:4 & Water-Cement Ratio](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/concrete/concrete-mix-ratios/) - [Roof Pitch to Angle: Convert Rise/Run to Degrees & Grade](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/concrete/roof-pitch-to-angle/) - [Rafter Length Calculation: Run, Rise & Overhang](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/concrete/rafter-length/) - [Stair Rise & Run Setout: Riser, Going & the 2R+G Formula](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/concrete/stair-rise-and-run-setout/) - [How to Convert a Fall or Gradient: Ratio, Percentage & Degrees](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/concrete/fall-and-gradient-conversion/) - [Stud & Joist Spacing Takeoff: How Many at 400, 450 & 600 mm Centres](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/concrete/stud-and-joist-spacing-takeoff/) - [Gravel & Base Volume: Compacted Depth vs Loose-Fill Order Quantity](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/concrete/gravel-and-base-volume/) In this section [Browse all topics](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/topics/)[Free web tools](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/tools/)[Printable references](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/printables/) [All countries](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/) [Germany](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/de/) Topics Stairs - [German Stair Rules: DIN 18065 Rise, Going & Guard Heights](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/de/stairs/stair-and-guard-requirements/) Footings - [Does Germany Have a Fixed Foundation Depth?](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/de/footings/foundation-depth-and-footings/) Room heights - [Minimum Room Height by Bundesland: Germany Land by Land](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/de/room-heights-by-bundesland/) - [Does Germany Have a National Minimum Room Height?](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/de/rooms/minimum-room-heights/) Ramps - [German Ramp Gradients: DIN 18040-2 Accessible Ramp Rules](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/de/ramps/ramp-gradients/) Wet areas - [German Wet-Room Waterproofing: Check DIN and Land Rules](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/de/wet-areas/waterproofing-requirements/) By Land - [Brandenburg](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/de/bb/) - [Berlin](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/de/be/) - [Baden-Württemberg](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/de/bw/) - [Bayern](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/de/by/) - [Bremen](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/de/hb/) - [Hessen](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/de/he/) - [Hamburg](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/de/hh/) - [Mecklenburg-Vorpommern](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/de/mv/) - [Niedersachsen](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/de/ni/) - [Nordrhein-Westfalen](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/de/nw/) - [Rheinland-Pfalz](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/de/rp/) - [Schleswig-Holstein](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/de/sh/) - [Saarland](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/de/sl/) - [Sachsen](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/de/sn/) - [Sachsen-Anhalt](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/de/st/) - [Thüringen](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/de/th/) Calculation guides - [Concrete Calculations: The Complete On-Site Guide](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/concrete/concrete-calculations-guide/) - [How to Calculate Concrete Volume for a Slab](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/concrete/concrete-volume-slab/) - [How Many Bags of Concrete Per m³? (20kg, 25kg, 40kg)](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/concrete/bags-of-concrete-per-m3/) - [Concrete for Post Holes: Volume Per Hole & Bags Needed](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/concrete/concrete-post-holes/) - [Concrete Mix Ratios Explained: 1:2:3, 1:2:4 & Water-Cement Ratio](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/concrete/concrete-mix-ratios/) - [Roof Pitch to Angle: Convert Rise/Run to Degrees & Grade](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/concrete/roof-pitch-to-angle/) - [Rafter Length Calculation: Run, Rise & Overhang](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/concrete/rafter-length/) - [Stair Rise & Run Setout: Riser, Going & the 2R+G Formula](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/concrete/stair-rise-and-run-setout/) - [How to Convert a Fall or Gradient: Ratio, Percentage & Degrees](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/concrete/fall-and-gradient-conversion/) - [Stud & Joist Spacing Takeoff: How Many at 400, 450 & 600 mm Centres](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/concrete/stud-and-joist-spacing-takeoff/) - [Gravel & Base Volume: Compacted Depth vs Loose-Fill Order Quantity](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/concrete/gravel-and-base-volume/) [Building Codes](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/) [Germany](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/de/) Nordrhein-Westfalen # Building Code Requirements in Nordrhein-Westfalen North Rhine-Westphalia's BauO NRW is one of only two Länder that spells out exact guard-height figures in statute — plus its 2.40 m room height, Abstandsflächen and 30 m² garage rule. North Rhine-Westphalia’s building law is the **Bauordnung für das Land Nordrhein-Westfalen (BauO NRW)**, currently in force. It’s one of the more fully-confirmed Länder on this hub — several figures are stated directly in its own statute text, not just followed from the Musterbauordnung model. **Minimum room height (lichte Raumhöhe): 2.40 m.** A reduced figure applies in a roof space or cellar, but the exact reduced value and clause number weren’t independently confirmed — check the current BauO NRW text directly for that detail. **Guard/parapet (Umwehrung) height is confirmed** — North Rhine-Westphalia is one of only two Länder (with Bavaria) where the figure was checked directly against statute text. **§39 BauO NRW** spells out: window sill at least **800 mm** for fall height up to 12 m, **900 mm** above that; other guarding (stairs, balconies, floor/roof edges) at least **900 mm** for a 1–12 m fall height in a residential building, rising to **1100 mm** above 12 m. **Boundary setbacks (Abstandsflächen)**, per **§6 BauO NRW**: general depth factor **0.4 × wall height**, reduced to **0.25 H** in Kerngebiete and **0.2 H** in Gewerbe-/Industriegebiete, with a minimum absolute depth around 3 m — and a flat **3 m** setback for residential Gebäudeklasse 1/2 buildings up to 3 storeys, regardless of what the 0.4 H calculation gives. **Permit-free garages**: up to **30 m²** floor area and **3 m** wall height, per **§62 BauO NRW**. Check the [BauO NRW text on recht.nrw.de](https://recht.nrw.de/) for anything above before you rely on it. ## Related - [**German building rules hub**](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/de/) — how the national DIN layer and the 16 Länder’s own building law fit together. - [**Minimum room heights across Germany**](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/de/rooms/minimum-room-heights/) — why there’s no single national figure. - [**German stair & guard rules**](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/de/stairs/stair-and-guard-requirements/) — the DIN 18065 numbers plus the Land-by-Land guard-height picture. ## Adoption status Adopted Current code in force Bauordnung für das Land Nordrhein-Westfalen (BauO NRW) Next edition Not announced Adoption / transition BauO NRW is one of only two Länder that spells out exact guard-height figures in statute (§39), plus 2.40 m room height and a 30 m² garage rule. [Official source →](https://recht.nrw.de/) Last verified 2026-07-29 No state-specific variations recorded yet for this jurisdiction. This page is general information for tradespeople and is not compliance, engineering or legal advice. Requirements are subject to state and territory variations and adoption timing. Always confirm requirements with your building certifier and relevant state authority. ## Page directory