Glossary: Swiss Register and Real Estate Terms
Short, source-backed definitions of the terms that appear in an alpflo report and around the land register, the PLR cadastre, and the building register. Every definition names its official source — and, where the data calls for it, the matching honesty state.
This page explains publicly accessible registers and does not constitute tax, legal, construction, or financial advice. Consult a qualified professional for legal or tax questions.
Where a state appears below, it tells you how reliable the information is: officially confirmed, checked with nothing recorded, derived from a model, or honestly disclosed as unable to be resolved.
Confirmed in an official Swiss register. Direct source.
Register queried; nothing on this parcel. The absence is documented.
Derived from a model or an API: real, but not directly from the register. Please verify.
Hit an edge case. Stated honestly at the boundary, never silently discarded.
The federal building identifier (EGID) is the unique number assigned to a building in the Federal Register of Buildings and Dwellings (GWR). It links a building across registers — not to be confused with the EGRID, which identifies a parcel (a plot of land).
The Federal Register of Buildings and Dwellings (GWR) records Switzerland's buildings and dwellings with construction, use, and energy data. alpflo uses the public tier (Level A). This information is reported as stated in the register, not asserted as fact — it can differ from the actual condition.
Source: Federal Register of Buildings and Dwellings (BFS) · Guide: the register value is not the truth
Public-law restrictions on landownership (ÖREB) are binding restrictions on real property — zoning, building lines, water-body setbacks, noise sensitivity levels. The PLR cadastre (ÖREB-Kataster) compiles them officially and is available through cadastre.ch.
Source: PLR Cadastre (cadastre.ch) · Guide: the PLR cadastre explained
The ÖV-Güteklasse (A–D) measures how well a location is served by public transport. It's modeled by the Federal Office for Spatial Development (ARE) from timetable and stop data — derived, not read directly from a register.
An easement (Dienstbarkeit) is a right over someone else's property, recorded in the land register — for example a right of way, a utility easement, or a building right. It typically transfers with the property at sale and can restrict its use. Governed by the Civil Code (ZGB).
Source: Civil Code (ZGB), Art. 730 et seq. (Fedlex) · Guide: reading and ordering a land register extract
The floor area ratio (Ausnützungsziffer) describes the ratio of chargeable floor area to parcel area, limiting how much can be built on a parcel. It's set in the municipal land-use plan; harmonized construction terminology is governed by the Intercantonal Agreement (IVHB).
Source: Building & Planning, Canton of Zurich (zh.ch) · Guide: building zones W2/W3 explained
The noise sensitivity level sets the permissible noise exposure in a zone. ES II typically applies to purely residential zones without disruptive businesses. It's based on the Noise Abatement Ordinance (LSV); the level is recorded in the PLR cadastre.
Groundwater protection zones (S1, S2, S3) protect drinking-water sources. In the outer zone S3, use and construction restrictions apply. It's based on the Water Protection Ordinance (GSchV); the zone is recorded in the PLR cadastre.
Register of sites whose soil is polluted by waste (former landfills, industrial or accident sites). The register of polluted sites distinguishes a “polluted” site from one “needing remediation” (a contaminated site) and is a PLR theme.
Source: Register of polluted sites (FOEN) · Guide: checking contaminated sites
The cantonal building energy certificate (GEAK) rates a building's energy efficiency (classes A–G). It's voluntary and privacy-sensitive; only a few cantons publish it (live: Lucerne). Where no public entry exists, alpflo honestly labels it "could not be resolved."
Source: GEAK (geak.ch)
Sonnendach is the federal solar cadastre: it models the solar potential of individual roof areas (© SFOE). The value is derived from irradiation and roof data — "modeled," not officially measured.
A change of ownership (Handänderung) is the transfer of a property to a new owner; it's recorded in the land register. Many cantons levy a property transfer tax (Handänderungssteuer) on it. The entry at the land registry office is what governs.
What's the difference between EGID and EGRID?
The EGID identifies a building in the Federal Register of Buildings and Dwellings (GWR); the EGRID identifies a parcel of land in the official cadastral survey. A parcel can carry multiple buildings — the relationship isn't one-to-one.
What does ÖREB mean?
ÖREB stands for öffentlich-rechtliche Eigentumsbeschränkungen — public-law restrictions on landownership: binding, legally grounded restrictions on real property such as zoning, building lines, or water-body setbacks. The PLR cadastre compiles them officially.
Is all register information legally binding?
No. ÖREB restrictions are legally binding. Information from the GWR is reported as stated, not asserted as fact, and modeled values (ÖV-Güteklasse, Sonnendach) are derived. That's exactly why alpflo labels every fact with one of four honesty states.
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See these terms in context: in the public sample report or in your own report for a Swiss address.
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