In Germany, the land use plan (FNP), also known as the preparatory urban land use plan, represents the intended urban development of a municipality. It is the result of a municipality's fundamental political and technical planning process. Its contents are based on the provisions of Section 5 of the German Building Code (BauGB).

The land use plan is a preparatory urban land-use plan that has no direct legal effect on citizens, but merely contains binding specifications within the authorities. Land use plans must be approved by the district government and are binding for the development of downstream plans.

The FNP shows which areas are to be used for different purposes over the next 10 to 15 years. The city uses it to make clear which spatial developments are considered realistic and compatible over this period.

The uses include, for example

• Residential areas
• commercial areas
• green spaces
• Areas for public use
• Main roads, railroad lines, etc.

Binding urban land-use planning in the form of the development plan is developed on the basis of the land-use plan.

In Bonn, more than 1,000 development plans regulate the use of land. You can use the city map to find out which development plans currently apply to a particular plot of land.

If a development plan specifies areas for the planting of trees and shrubs or areas for measures to protect, maintain and develop nature and the landscape, these must be planted in accordance with the relevant planting list.

A distinction is made here between

• native shrubs and traditional cultivated species in Bonn,
• Central European wild shrubs and small-growing garden forms of Central European species for cramped and design-demanding situations indoors as well as an
• exemplary list of suitable plants for extensive green roofs.

There is a multi-stage process for new development plans. First, planning must be initiated by political bodies, authorities, investors or other interested parties. The planning committee then decides to draw up the development plan.

Citizens are involved in the subsequent planning process:

Preliminary development plan drafts are prepared in the city planning office and presented to the public as part of the early public participation process in accordance with Section 3 (1) BauGB. For a period of two weeks, the plans are displayed in the City Hall and in the respective district administration offices. Citizens will have the opportunity to express their opinions during this early concept phase.

The plan will be revised after the comments received have been evaluated.

The draft development plan will be put on public display for a period of one month in accordance with Section 3 (2) BauGB. Citizens can submit suggestions and concerns during the public display.

After the public display, the committees involved discuss and decide on the development plan. With the public announcement in the Amtsblatt, the development plan becomes legally binding and thus  local law.