Questione giuridica chiave
Which law governs a retroactive building-permit decision for an unauthorized structure when the law changed after construction?
Decisione estratta
As a rule, the law in force when the structure was erected applies, if it is more favorable to the owner than the law in force at the time of decision.
Motivazione estratta
For demolition orders, the proportionality principle allows demolition only if the structure is materially unlawful. Before ordering demolition, authorities must examine whether legalization through a retroactive permit is possible. If the legal situation changed after construction, the prevailing federal case law requires application of the law in force at the time of construction when it is the milder rule, with only an exceptional departure where applying the older milder law would be intolerable for very special reasons.