In general, the certification fees include the handling of the entire certification process by the DGNB. In addition, costs arise for the DGNB Auditor, which may vary depending on the project and the services performed. The following chart explains how the certification fees are compiled:
Overview of the DGNB fees
The services provided by the DGNB include a plausibility check (pre-certificate) and the first two rounds of the conformity check (certificate). If the DGNB Auditor or client wishes to have the documents checked further, the DGNB will charge an additional fee of Euro 2,000 net for up to ten criteria. For each additional criterion to be checked, a net fee of Euro 500 is charged. The conformity assessment can only be carried out once all certification fees have been paid in advance.
In addition, the statutory sales tax is payable on all certification fees. The discount for DGNB members is granted if the client or the applicant of the project is a DGNB member or a member of an international DGNB partner organisation.
The fees are to be calculated according to the gross floor area (GFA). The GFA includes above ground and underground areas including all underground parking, technology and storage areas.
The registration for the pre-certificate and the certificate takes place together. After signing the certification contract, 20 percent of the fees will be charged. Upon submission of the documents for the pre-certificate, a further 20 percent will be charged, the remaining fees will be invoiced regardless of the application for a a pre-certificate on submission of the documents for the certificate.
If your project has already been pre-certified with an earlier market version or if you have general questions about an earlier version, we are happy to help you at system@dgnb.de.
DGNB fees in detail
The following cost table is an overview of the certification fees (Pre-Certificate and Certificate) on the part of the DGNB for the schemes:
New Construction and Renovation of Offices | New Construction and Renovation of Educational buildings | New Construction and Renovation of Residential buildings (more than 6 residential units) |
New Construction and Renovation of Consumer markets | New Construction and Renovation of Shopping centres | New Construction of Laboratories |
New Construction and Renovation of Mixed Use | New Construction and Renovation of Department stores | New Construction of Healthcare buildings |
New Construction and Renovation of Hotels | New Construction and Renovation of Assembly buildings | New Construction of Sport halls |
| GFA in m2 (≤) | 1,250 | 2,500 | 5,000 | 7,500 | 10,000 | 12,500 | 15,000 | 17,500 | 20,000 | 25,000 | 30,000 | 40,000 | 50,000 | 60,000 | 70,000 | 80,000 | 90,000 | 100,000 | 110,000 | 120,000 | 130,0002 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DGNB member | 3,200 €1 | 4,450 € | 6,150 € | 7,800 € | 9,350 € | 10,900 € | 12,450 € | 14,000 € | 15,500 € | 18,150 € | 20,750 € | 26,000 € | 31,250 € | 36,500 € | 41,750 € | 47,000 € | 52,250 € | 57,250 € | 62,000 € | 66,750 € | 71,500 € |
| Non-member | 4,900 €1 | 7,600 € | 9,400 € | 11,300 € | 13,200 € | 15,100 € | 17,000 € | 18,900 € | 20,800 € | 24,150 € | 27,500 € | 33,600 € | 39,700 € | 45,800 € | 51,900 € | 58,000 € | 64,100 € | 70,100 € | 76,000 € | 81,800 € | 87,500 € |
All costs are subject to the statutory VAT and apply to the pre-certificate and certificate. The discount for members is granted if the client of the project or the applicant is a DGNB member or a member of an international DGNB partner organisation.
The fees are to be calculated based on the gross floor area, GFA, as defined by DIN standard 277-1:2016-01. The GFA thereby includes the GFA aboveground and underground, including all areas designated for underground parking, technical installations and storage.
1 Note: these fees include the certification fees for the QNG verification and do not include the pre-certificate and ESG Verification.
2 For buildings with a gross floor area, GFA, > 130,000 m² we will gladly make you an offer. Please contact us via phone +49 711 722 322-0 or via email at zertifizierung@dgnb.de
The following cost table is an overview of the certification fees (Pre-Certificate and Certificate) on the part of the DGNB for the schemes:
New Construction and Renovation Logistic buildings | New Construction and Renovation Production buildings | New Construction Car parks |
| GFA in m2 (≤) | 2,500 | 5,000 | 7,500 | 10,000 | 12,500 | 15,000 | 17,500 | 20,000 | 25,000 | 30,000 | 40,000 | 50,000 | 60,000 | 70,000 | 80,000 | 90,000 | 100,000 | 110,000 | 120,000 | 130,0001 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DGNB member | 4,450 € | 5,850 € | 7,200 € | 8,500 € | 9,700 € | 10,850 € | 11,950 € | 13,000 € | 14,500 € | 15,900 € | 18,400 € | 20,750 € | 22,850 € | 24,900 € | 26,950 € | 29,000 € | 31,000 € | 33,000 € | 35,000 € | 37,000 € |
| Non-member | 7,600 € | 9,150 € | 10,700 € | 12,150 € | 13,600 € | 15,050 € | 16,500 € | 17,900 € | 19,700 € | 21,300 € | 24,000 € | 26,700 € | 29,300 € | 31,900 € | 34,500 € | 37,100 € | 39,700 € | 42,200 € | 44,700 € | 47,200 € |
All costs are subject to the statutory VAT and apply to the pre-certificate and certificate. The discount for members is granted if the client of the project or the applicant is a DGNB member or a member of an international DGNB partner organisation.
The fees are to be calculated based on the gross floor area, GFA, as defined by DIN standard 277-1:2016-01. The GFA thereby includes the GFA aboveground and underground, including all areas designated for underground parking, technical installations and storage.
1 For buildings with a gross floor area, GFA, > 130,000 m² we will gladly make you an offer. Please contact us via phone +49 711 722 322-0 or via email at zertifizierung@dgnb.de
The following cost table is an overview of the certification fees (Pre-Certificate and Certificate) on the part of the DGNB for Small residential buildings:
| Number of full floors (excluding basement) | Certification fees | |
|---|---|---|
| DGNB member | ≤ 2 > 2 | 950 € 1,450 € |
| Non-member | ≤ 2 > 2 | 1,450 € 1,950 € |
All fees are subject to the statutory rate of VAT. The membership discount is applied if the building owner or the applicant is a DGNB member or member of an international partner organisation of the DGNB.
The certification fees are eligible for funding under KfW Programme 431 Energy-efficient Construction and Refurbishment – Building Assistance Grant. This cannot be applied for at present. Please refer to the website of the KfW for relevant information if you are already receiving the grant.
The following cost table is an overview of the certification fees (Certificate only, not Pre-Certificate) on the part of the DGNB for Interiors:
| Project size/area to be certified in m2 (≤) | 2,500 | 5,000 | 10,000 | 20,000 | 30,000 | 40,000 | 50,0001 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DGNB member | 2,000 € | 3,000 € | 4,000 € | 6,000 € | 8,000 € | 10,000 € | 12,000 € |
| Non-member | 3,000 € | 4,500 € | 6,000 € | 8,000 € | 10,000 € | 12,500 € | 15,000 € |
All fees are subject to the statutory rate of VAT. The membership discount is applied if the client or applicant is a DGNB member or member of an international partner organisation of the DGNB.
The fees are to be calculated on the basis of the area to be certified. Evidence must be produced for this purpose.
1 For interiors with an area to be certified > 50,000 m2 we gladly prepare a proposal. Please contact us via phone +49 711 722 322-0 or via email at zertifizierung@dgnb.de
The following cost table is an overview of the certification fees on the part of the DGNB for all Buildings In Use with the Climate Positive award:
| Registration fees | 1st certification | Recertification |
|---|---|---|
| DGNB member | 1,000 € | n/a |
| Non-member | 2,500 € | n/a |
The total fee consists of registration and certification fees. The certificate is valid for three years from date of issue. A recertification is possible annually by submitting the consumption data. Every three years, all relevant criteria must be submitted. The fee for recertification annually is indicated in the table of certification fees. If a building is recertified after one year, the DGNB will charge the single, after two years the double and in the third year the triple fee. For an annual update, the Climate Positive award is free.
| GFA in m2 (≤) | Certification type | 500 | 5,000 | 20,000 | 50,000 | 100,000 | > 100,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DGNB member | 1st certification Recertification per year | n/a 175 € | 1,500 € 375 € | 2,500 € 625 € | 4,000 € 1,000 € | 7,500 € 1,875 € | Price on request Price on request |
| Non-member | 1st certification Recertification per year | n/a 175€ | 1,500€ 375 € | 3,000 € 750 € | 5,000 € 1,250 € | 9,000 € 2,250 € | Price on request Price on request |
All costs listed exclude value-added tax. The discount for members applies if the project applicant is a DGNB member or member of an international Partner organization of the DGNB. The fees are to be calculated according to the gross floor area (GFA). The GFA includes above ground and underground areas including all underground parking, technology and storage areas.
A 20 percent discount on the certification fees is granted, if the project is the first DGNB Buildings In Use certification in the country.
The following cost table is an overview of the certification costs on the part of the DGNB for Existing Buildings, Office:
| Certification type | Pre-Certification (valid 18 months) | Certification with Pre-Certificate (valid 3 years) | Certification without Pre-Certificate (valid 3 years) | Re-Certification for a further 3 years (without structural modifications) | Re-Certification for a further 3 years (with structural modifications) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DGNB member | 5,000 € | 4,000 € | 7,000 € | 3,000 € | 5,500 € |
| Non-member | 6,000 € | 5,000 € | 9,000 € | 4,000 € | 7,500 € |
All fees are subject to the statutory rate of VAT. The membership discount is applied if the building owner or the applicant is a DGNB member or member of an international partner organisation of the DGNB.
The following cost table is an overview of the certification fees (individual prices Pre-Certificate, Development Certificate or Certificate) on the part of the DGNB for the schemes:
Urban Districts | Business Disctricts | Commercial Areas |
Industrial Sites | Event Areals | Resorts |
Vertical Cities |
In general, the certification fees cover the entire certification process carried out by the DGNB, including the first two rounds of conformity assessments for the respective (Pre-)Certificate. If the auditor or building owner/principal insists on further documentation reviews, the DGNB will charge an additional fee of Euro 2000 for up to 10 critera. For each additional criterion, the DGNB will charge an additional fee of € 500. The conformity assessment will be conducted once all certification fees have been paid.
| Project size (Gross development area in ha (≤)) | 10 | 30 | 100 | 200*** | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DGNB member | Pre-Certificate, Development Certificate or Certificate* Package price discount** | 9,800 €
| 14,600 €
| 19,500 €
| 25,500 €
|
| Non-member | Pre-Certificate, Development Certificate or Certificate* Package price discount** | 12,800 €
| 17,600 €
| 22,500 €
| 28,500 €
|
All of the costs listed exclude value-added tax. The discount for members applies if the applicant is a DGNB member or member of an international partner organization of the DGNB.
The fees are calculated based on gross development area (GDA) in hectar (ha).
* A double fee will be charged if there is no pre-certificate or development certificate carried out at certificate application.
** The package price applies to the simultaneous registration of several phases (pre-certificate, development certificate, certificate).
*** For projects > 200 ha please contact us by phone +49 711 722 322-0 or email zertifizierung@dgnb.de for an individual offer.
- Certification of sub-sections
For large projects it is possible to pre-certify the overall project, while the phases of construction are certified individually. The fees for the first phase of construction are based on the size of the overall project. For each additional phase of construction, an additional 30 percent of the regular fees for the entire project are charged.
- Re-Certification (Industrial Sites)
The certification for Industrial Sites is limited to five years. If there are no structural changes, the recertification fee will be 40 percent of the regular certification fees. If there are structural changes, the re-certification fee will be 60 percent of the regular certification fees.
- International Projects
There is a 20 percent discount on certification fees for projects not based in Germany.
- Vertical Cities
The calculation of certification fees for the usage profile Vertical Cities are based on the fees for "New Construction". Therefore, the fee for each regular building must be determined and summed up.
- Information about auditing fees
Auditing fees are not included in the certification fees mentioned above. The cost of auditing services varies greatly from one project to another. Please negotiate these fees with your auditor, who will inform you of any extra costs, such as for special planning services, etc.
| DGNB projects1 | other projects | |
|---|---|---|
| DGNB member | 2,500 € | n/a |
| Non-member | 4,000 € | n/a |
All fees are subject to the statutory rate of VAT. The membership discount is applied if the owner of the property or the applicant is a DGNB member or member of an international partner organisation of the DGNB.
1 Only accessible for projects with DGNB Certificate in Gold or Platinum
In general, the fees cover the processing of the entire verification by the DGNB, including two verification cycles. For each additional verification cycle, an additional 50 percent of the verification fee is charged net. The conformity verification can only take place if all fees have been paid beforehand.
The fees* consist of the registration fee and the verification fee.
| Registration fee | New Construction | Renovation | Acquisition and Ownership | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DGNB member | 750 € | 2,500 € | 2,500 € | 1,500 € |
| Non-member | 1,500 € | 3,000 € | 3,000 € | 2,000 € |
All costs listed exlcude value-added tax. The discount for members applies if the project applicant is a DGNB member or a member of an international partner organisation of the DGNB.
* If several identical buildings at the same location are to be verified, we will be happy to provide you with a quote. Please contact us by phone +49 711 722 322-0 or via email to zertifizierung@dgnb.de.
Note on consultancy services: Fees for consultancy services are not included in the above fees. The costs for consultancy services are highly dependent on the project. Please arrange these with your DGNB Auditor or DGNB Consultant. They will also inform you of any additional costs that may occur.
Please note:
(1) No fees are due if all of the following requirements are met:
- The project has already been registered with the DGNB in accordance with the system variants New Construction, Version 2018 and Version 2023; Renovation, Version 2021; or Buildings In Use, Version 2020.
- The documents to be submitted as part of the ESG Verification are submitted at the same time as the DGNB conformity assessment.
- The applicant for verification and for certification is the same.
(2) If several projects are registered at the same time and submitted collectively, the registration fee is only due once.
(3) For projects that are already DGNB-certified, only the verification fee is due.
Please contact us if you are interested in a verification of building ensembles.
Note regarding auditor services
Auditor fees are not included in the certification fees listed above. The fees for auditor services strongly depend on the project in question. Please discuss the fees directly with your auditor. They will also inform you about any additional costs such as further planning services required from specialist planners.
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