Owners of land in Switzerland cannot simply use it in any way they wish. Certain conditions have to be complied with that have come into being as the result of legislation or decisions by the authorities. Public-law restrictions on landownership are legally binding for landowners.

With the aid of the Cadastre of Public-law Restrictions on landownership (PLR-cadastre), which is currently being developed, it is possible to readily obtain relevant information about plots of land, and there is also a higher degree of legal certainty thanks to the provision of binding information. It is not only land owners, but also the various players on the property market, as well as authorities and public administrations, who will benefit from this comprehensive instrument.

The PLR cadastre: a success story

The federal ordinance on public-law restrictions on landownership (PLR ordinance) entered into force in October 2009. As of the beginning of 2020, all cantons, with the exception of St Gallen, are expected to have their PLR cadastre system up and running. The cantonal council of St Gallen has resolved to combine the introduction of its PLR cadastre with its «eGovernment St Gallen digital» project. In addition, the Principality of Liechtenstein has (on its own initiative) also created the necessary legal bases and is now developing its own PLR cadastre.

Following the development of the PLR cadastre, the next steps will be to secure its operation, incorporate additional topics and functions, constantly examine potential additions for the future and maintain its high quality.

The PLR cadastre is based on activities and studies carried out by various «pioneers». Even today, it is still well worth reading about their ideas and the results of their studies. The various documents are truly fascinating and bear testimony to far-sightedness and a spirit of innovation. These reports are available in German, and some are also available in French.