[hef19898]

Well, only if there is a "Bebauungsplan" (a plan that describes the requirements of buildings and surroundings, up to the type of trees for example). If there is not, and where we built there isn't, no such limits exist. Beyond your states general laws covering buildings and such.

[hansel_der]

i recon most (all?) cities have that

[hef19898]

Not even close. These plans are limited to certain areas, usually for those, sometimes surprisingly small, areas that have just recently been opened for construction. At least in my experience, there certainly are statistics to be found around that. E.g. we don't have one neither, my parents have one so, including the kind of trees to be planted in community places.