Planning approval is a formal administrative procedure for the binding official approval of a plan. All public relations between the promoter of the project and those affected by the plan are regulated in a legal manner. Without the planning approval, a large number of public law procedures would have to be carried out for larger projects, which would make efficient and consistent planning almost impossible.

Construction projects are usually approved by a planning approval decision.

In particular, the construction and modification of mountain railways, energy overhead lines from 110 kV, airports and landing sites, gas supply lines over 300 mm, dike construction and water expansion, railway lines, federal and state roads and motorways are generally subject to planning approval.