Industrial areas in Northrhine-Westphalia

The German law (BauNVO) distinguishes between ten different types of use, five of which are used for businesses and are therefore taken into account when choosing a location (the remaining five types are different residential areas):

1. Commercial areas (GE): permitted for most commercial operations, except for industrial operations, hotels / restaurants and horticulture
2. Industrial properties and areas (GI): permissible for commercial operations and industrial companies, not for office and administrative buildings as well as hotel / catering and horticultural businesses
3. Special areas (SO): Permitted for purpose-related tourism (e.g. spa areas, tourist accommodation, sports stadiums), areas for shopping centers and large-scale commercial operations, exhibition grounds, exhibitions and congresses, university areas, clinic areas, port areas and areas for power plants.
4. Mixed areas (MI): both residential and commercial buildings possible. However, the trade is limited to office and administration buildings, hotels / restaurants, amusement facilities, petrol stations and horticultural businesses.
5. Core areas (MK): mainly permitted for commercial operations, cultural institutions, restaurants and administrative institutions. In most municipalities, the inner city is the core area.