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St. Gallen

Renovating in St. Gallen: a practical guide for homeowners

Welcome to St. Gallen. Undertaking a renovation is a major step to improve your property's comfort and value. In a city rich in history and architecture, planning your work while respecting current energy standards is essential. This guide helps you navigate the specific characteristics of the local building stock and the key steps to successfully execute your renovation projects, while anticipating the cantonal and municipal requirements needed to ensure your construction site runs smoothly and efficiently.

Local housing stock

In St. Gallen, the federal building register lists 8'987 residential buildings and 43'827 dwellings. These municipal benchmarks help put your home in context, but do not replace an individual assessment.

74 %built before 1980
60 %heated by oil or gas
17 %electric hot water
9.8 %with declared solar thermal

Age of residential buildings

74 % built before 1980

  • Before 191936 %
  • 1919–19455 %
  • 1946–196013 %
  • 1961–197010 %
  • 1971–198010 %
  • 1981–19907 %
  • 1991–20006 %
  • 2001–20105 %
  • Since 20116 %

Construction year does not reveal past renovations: check the current insulation condition.

Main heating energy

38 % · Gas

  • Gas38 %
  • Heating oil22 %
  • Heat pump20 %
  • District heating16 %
  • Wood2 %
  • Electricity1 %

This distribution describes recorded buildings, not your system's consumption or efficiency.

Heating and hot water: which energies?

EnergyHeatingHot water
Gas38 %27.4 %
Heating oil22 %14.1 %
District heating16 %13.9 %
Heat pump20 %17.3 %
Electricity1 %17 %
Wood2 %0.5 %
Solar thermal0 %9.6 %

Each line gives the share of buildings using that energy, separately for heating and for hot water. The two columns do not always reach 100%: some buildings combine two systems, or reported none.

Type of heating system

  • Boiler (unspecified)61.7 %
  • Heat pump20.4 %
  • Heat exchanger (district)16.4 %
  • Condensing boiler0.7 %
  • Central electric heating0.7 %

A standard non-condensing boiler is usually older and less efficient.

Houses or apartment buildings?

  • Single-family houses36.6 %
  • Two-dwelling houses5.6 %
  • Apartment buildings (3+)57.9 %

12.8 % of buildings mix housing with shops or offices.

The typical building

storeys (median)
3
median footprint
144 m²
median dwelling area
82 m²

Dwellings by number of rooms

9.1 %1 rm
15.9 %2 rm
25.1 %3 rm
31.6 %4 rm
18.3 %5+ rm

Dwellings per building

  • 1 dwelling36.6 %
  • 2 to 421.5 %
  • 5 to 929.1 %
  • 10 to 1911.1 %
  • 20 or more1.7 %

Renovations, heritage and volumes

For your renovation projects in St. Gallen, the RegBL data provides essential guidance. With 122 protected heritage buildings out of 147 known, contacting the municipality early is vital for securing building permits. Data regarding house volume is partial, covering only 3 buildings measured under the SIA 416 standard with a median of 805 m3; this metric helps scale your insulation or heating works. Please note that the renovation year is not recorded for any of the 8987 buildings listed in this register, meaning this specific information is currently unavailable for your strategic planning.

122
buildings flagged as protected
status known for 147 of 8'987 buildings; check with the municipality
805 m³
median house volume (SIA 416)
measured for 3 of 3'286 houses

Source : OFS — RegBL (export communal complet). Existing residential buildings; percentages of recorded values.

Housing stock and building age

The architectural landscape of St. Gallen is marked by great diversity, with a large proportion of the 8987 listed buildings dating from before 1919. Heritage management is central, as 122 buildings are officially protected.6 % of the total.

As the renovation year is not documented for these buildings, it is highly recommended to commission a complete energy assessment early in your project to accurately evaluate the actual condition of your building structure.

Heating and energy

The current energy mix in St. Gallen shows a dominance of gas and oil heating, although heat pumps are increasingly being adopted. To optimize thermal efficiency, it is crucial to assess your building envelope's insulation before changing your heating system.

A median volume of 805 m3, though based on partial data, highlights the importance of rigorous planning according to the SIA 416 standard.

Consider switching to renewable energies, such as heat pumps or district heating, to reduce your long-term operating costs and meet the cantonal sustainability requirements.

Permits and approvals

Gallen, the density of heritage-protected buildings requires close consultation with the relevant municipal authorities before submission. It is imperative to enquire early about restrictions linked to built heritage.

The procedure usually includes checking compliance with energy and safety standards. Plan for administrative processing times for your construction permits, especially if your property is located in a protected or historic area.

Priorities for owners

The absolute priority for any owner should be improving energy efficiency, starting with roof and facade insulation. Following these measures, replacing the heating system becomes the most effective lever. In the local context of St.

Gallen, considering heritage protection is essential. If your building is listed, prioritize interventions that respect the original structure, such as replacing windows with high-performance thermal models that retain historical design.

Maintaining your property in good condition increases its market value while ensuring optimal living comfort.

Using the estimator

The RenoIndex estimation tool allows you to quickly obtain a budget range for your works.

By entering reliable data about your building, such as the estimated volume or the median dwelling area of 82 m2, you will obtain results consistent with prices in the canton of St. Gallen. Use these results to prioritize your investments.

Do not forget to include in your calculations professional fees for experts, which are particularly necessary during complex renovations on old or heritage-protected buildings.

Local data in detail

Choose your works in St. Gallen

Nearby municipalities : Gossau (SG) · Rapperswil-Jona · Wil (SG) · Altstätten · Widnau · Flawil · Buchs (SG) · Uzwil

Frequently asked questions

Is my building protected?

There are 122 officially protected buildings in St. Gallen. To confirm if your property is one of them, contact the municipal urban planning department, which manages the local heritage register.

What is the average dwelling size?

The median dwelling area in St. Gallen is 82 m2. This value can serve as a reference when estimating your heating and insulation requirements.

Do I need a permit for facade insulation?

Yes, any modification to the exterior envelope, especially for older buildings, often requires authorization to preserve the urban aesthetics of St. Gallen. Consult the municipality before starting.

Which energy sources should I prefer for heating?

The Canton of St. Gallen encourages replacing fossil-fuel systems with heat pumps or district heating. Find out about the available grant programs.

Does the register show when my roof was renovated?

No, the renovation year is not documented for the 8987 recorded buildings. You will need to have a technical assessment performed to evaluate the actual condition of your roof.