Glossary: building land, cadastre and parcel data

The key terms of site search in Switzerland – briefly explained and related to the data in Parzella.

• PLR cadastre (ÖREB)

  The cadastre of public-law restrictions on landownership shows what may be built on a parcel.

• E-GRID

  The federal property identifier: the unique number of every parcel in Switzerland.

• Building zone

  Area that may be built on according to the municipal zoning plan – the prerequisite for building land.

• Floor area ratio (Ausnützungsziffer)

  Ratio of countable floor area to parcel area – defines how much may be built.

• Noise sensitivity level

  Level I–IV under the Noise Abatement Ordinance: which noise exposure is permissible in a zone?

• Land use statistics (Arealstatistik)

  The federal land-use statistics: 72 categories per hectare, derived from aerial imagery.

• Register of Buildings and Dwellings (GWR)

  The official register of all buildings and dwellings in Switzerland with construction year, category and EGID.

• Groundwater protection zone

  Protection zones S1–S3 around drinking-water wells plus protection areas Au and Ao.

• Polluted sites (Altlasten)

  The cadastre of polluted sites (KbS) lists properties with possible subsoil contamination.

• Natural hazards

  Hazard maps for flooding, surface runoff, landslides, rockfall and avalanches.

• Cadastral survey

  The authoritative basis for boundaries, areas and parcel numbers of all properties.

• Land register and owner information

  Who owns a parcel is recorded in the land register – access is regulated by each canton.

• Site score

  The 0–100 rating with which Parzella ranks every parcel against your search profile.

• Parcel

  A property delimited in the land register and the cadastral survey with its own number.

• Public transport quality class

  Federal classes A–D for accessibility by public transport.

• Finding building land

  How to find building land in Switzerland systematically – and why 26 cantons mean 26 portals.