Surroundings in Liechtenstein

Municipalities regulate local land use through Ortsplanung, Bauordnung and Zonenplan. These instruments determine permitted uses, access, building form, landscaping and some local emission requirements. The Landesrichtplan coordinates development across Liechtenstein and has a planning horizon of about 25 years. Settlement pressure makes coordination between municipalities, national authorities and neighbouring regions relevant, especially where roads, water, air or land use cross administrative borders. The Amt für Hochbau und Raumplanung handles national and spatial planning and building-law matters. The Amt für Tiefbau und Geoinformation manages national geodata, the ÖREB-Kataster and national roads. Municipalities are responsible for local roads, street lighting within built-up areas and drinking, utility and firefighting water systems. Work that occupies or opens public road space requires approval. Recorded charges include CHF 200 for certain traffic-sign measures, CHF 400 per square metre for breaking the surface of a national road and CHF 500 per month for using public land beside a national road; charges for municipal roads depend on the municipality. Waste disposal is organised locally through authorised facilities, with residual waste handled in part through KVA Buchs. The Amt für Umweltschutz deals with air, noise, water, waste and environmental assessments. Liechtenstein participates in the Ostluft cooperation with eastern Swiss cantons. A fixed measuring station operates at the Landesbibliothek in Vaduz, and mobile measurements are used at locations with higher suspected pollution; a 2026 measurement campaign is planned at the Eintrachtkreisel in Eschen. Measurements include particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, ozone, organic compounds and ammonia. Agriculture and animal keeping are major ammonia sources, and current measurement data is available through Ostluft. Road noise is recorded in the 2025 noise map. For residential zones, the immission limit is 60 dB(A) during the day and 50 dB(A) at night. The assessment identified 5,290 people above the daytime value, 2,957 above the nighttime value and 804 buildings with an exceedance. The alarm value was exceeded at eight buildings during the day and none at night. Railway noise forecasts for 2021 to 2025 remained within the applicable limits. The Amt für Umweltschutz can receive complaints and provide support for road, industrial, commercial and construction noise. Detailed noise-map data requires prior registration with the office. Municipalities provide drinking, utility and firefighting water, while the Amt für Umweltschutz supervises protected drinking-water extraction areas. Surface water and groundwater are managed under the Water Framework Directive and the EEA framework. Water quality in 2024 was generally good, although the Esche did not meet its targets for dissolved organic carbon and ammonium, and the Spiersbach, Binnenkanal and Scheidgraben did not meet their targets for dissolved organic carbon. In 26 two-week composite samples from the Binnenkanal in 2025, 159 micropollutants were detected and one cypermethrin limit was exceeded. Commercial and industrial wastewater discharges require approval. The Entsorgungszweckverband Gemeinden Liechtensteins operates supra-municipal wastewater collection and treatment, including the Bendern wastewater treatment plant. Everyday green space mainly concerns settlement greenery, public open areas, access to water and pressure on forests and recreation areas. The 2026 draft revision of the Landesrichtplan proposes more green space, shade, water access, unsealed surfaces, cool-air corridors, green roofs and facades, rainwater retention, stepping-stone habitats and fewer light and noise emissions. These are planning proposals, not general rules already applicable to every property. Forest clearing is generally prohibited, and non-forestry buildings in forests are generally prohibited. Fires in forests are restricted to suitable places, and drought can lead to a temporary fire ban. The Amt für Bevölkerungsschutz coordinates prevention and protection for floods, landslides, debris flows, avalanches, storms, forest fires and earthquakes. The Geodatenportal and hazard maps show whether a parcel is affected. A red hazard zone normally prohibits construction. A blue zone permits construction only with conditions. In yellow zones and areas exposed to surface runoff, protective measures under SIA 261/1:2020 are required. Yellow-white areas indicate residual risk, with conditions depending on the building class. A municipal building office or the Geodatenportal can provide a parcel-specific check. The Geodatenportal and an ÖREB-Auszug are available online without charge and without eligibility requirements. An ÖREB-Auszug can be requested by anyone. The eBaugesuchLI building application service requires an eID, while natural persons can also submit applications physically. New construction, alterations, demolition, changes of use, landfills, terrain changes, private roads and building-service installations may require a building permit. Building-law procedures can include the conciliation and objection process under Article 77 of the Building Act, which preserves the position of neighbours. Environmental impact assessments include public participation. Vernehmlassung allows early comments on government proposals, including comments from people who were not specifically invited; responses are published. The revision of the Landesrichtplan involves municipalities, public offices, associations, organisations and political bodies. Public websites and apps are subject to legal accessibility requirements under disability-equality rules and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Procedure costs and deadlines depend on the application or review. The 2026 consultation on the Landesrichtplan is scheduled for six months, while water-quality reports are published by supply area and measurement and map data are updated continuously.