Yes, in Austria, the state governments have the authority to mandate green initiatives through planning and zoning regulations.

The federal states' building codes and the planning/zoning regimes based on them often include requirements for energy efficiency, renewable energy usage and sustainable building materials. These regulations may mandate specific standards for insulation, heating systems, lighting and overall building design to reduce environmental impact. For instance, Vienna's Building Code stipulates that, when determining and amending zoning plans and development plans, consideration must be given, among other things, to the preservation or creation of environmental conditions that ensure healthy living conditions. The climate and the use of energy resources must also be considered. When determining the zoning plan, the Vienna City Council (Gemeinderat) provides a summary statement about the environmental considerations taken.

To further promote climate protection goals, the federal states' building codes may permit certain exemptions from mandatory requirements in local development plans. Projects that would otherwise be illegal under a development plan might become permissible if they include additional "green" features, such as energy efficiency measures like generating energy using photovoltaic systems. In Vienna, deviations from the development plan are permitted, provided they serve climate protection or adaptation to climate change in a long-term manner.