Heat pump in the Canton of LucerneHeating system, Lucerne.

Permit: air-to-water and borehole

An air-to-water heat pump causes noise and needs a building permit in the Canton of Lucerne, both for new buildings and for replacements, as a rule in the simplified procedure (Section 53 para. 2b PBV). The commune is responsible. The building application includes a noise protection assessment. This also applies to units that stand indoors and use outside air, because they also emit noise to the outside. We prepare the assessment and submit the application.

A borehole (ground probe) always needs a water protection permit from the canton. For boreholes up to 400 metres deep, a building permit is generally not needed, unless public or private interests are affected, for example with minimum distances. The geothermal map in the geoportal shows where boreholes are permitted, where conditions apply and where drilling is not allowed.

Replacing your heating system: what the Energy Act requires

Replacing a heat generator in existing buildings with residential use has had to be notified since 1 January 2019. The notification is made at the latest 20 days before work starts. The revised Energy Act and its ordinance have applied since 1 March 2025. You have a free choice of heating system if the building reaches GEAK class D (cantonal energy certificate for buildings) or a Minergie certificate. Otherwise a standard solution must be implemented. A heat pump is such a standard solution. Since 1 June 2026, for projects that need a permit, form EN-103 through EVEN is enough, and a separate energy notification is no longer needed.

Subsidies in the Canton of Lucerne

The canton subsidises replacing a fossil or electric main heating system with a heat pump. In 2026, it pays a flat CHF 4,000 for air-to-water units up to 15 kW, and from 15 to 70 kW CHF 2,500 plus CHF 100 per kW. For boreholes and water-to-water units, it is CHF 8,500 up to 15 kW, and from 15 to 70 kW CHF 4,000 plus CHF 300 per kW.

The application must be submitted before work starts through the Das Gebäudeprogramm portal. Up to 15 kW, the heat pump system module (Wärmepumpen-System-Modul) is required. We submit permit and subsidy applications.

Grid operator and electricity price

In 70 of the 79 communes in Lucerne, CKW supplies the electricity, alongside smaller utilities such as EWS and individual cooperatives. At 25.4 ct. per kWh, the cantonal median is below the Swiss median of 27.7 ct. (excluding VAT, household category H4, ElCom 2026). We register the heat pump with the grid operator. Blocking times and tariffs differ by utility, and we clarify them in advance.

A special feature

In the Canton of Lucerne, a good third of residential buildings already heat with a heat pump. A solar system on the roof supplies electricity for the heat pump, and we plan this with you if needed.