Hauptnutzung

Hauptnutzung is a German term meaning main use or principal use. It is used in real estate, urban planning, cadastral records, and building regulation to designate the predominant function of a property, building, or land parcel. The concept helps authorities and stakeholders distinguish between uses such as residential, commercial, industrial, and special-purpose use, and is often relevant for planning decisions, tax assessment, and permit procedures.

In practice, the Hauptnutzung is determined by factors such as the share of usable floor area devoted to a given use, the declared purpose in official documents, and the actual use observed by inspectors. In mixed-use properties, the Hauptnutzung typically reflects the primary activity or the largest share of space, while any second or ancillary uses fall under Nebenutzung (secondary use).

Because definitions vary by jurisdiction and by the applicable rules in a given state or municipality, the Hauptnutzung can be updated when a change of use is approved or when surveys are revised, affecting planning rights, taxation, insurance, and building regulations.

Examples illustrate the concept: a building with residential apartments and a ground-floor shop may have Hauptnutzung residential if living space dominates; if the shop occupies most of the area and serves as the main activity, the Hauptnutzung may be commercial.

See also Neben­nutzung, Nutzungsarten, Bebauungsplan, Grundbuch.