Comparison
Permit-free building rules across Germany
What can be built without a building permit, and where do the sixteen states set different limits?
On this page
What the exemption actually means
Verfahrensfrei, meaning exempt from a formal procedure, is not a licence to build. The state building code exempts certain small structures from the permit procedure, but legality on this plot still has to be established. The exemption addresses procedure, not the substantive right to build.
- Four measurements instead of one simple number
- The sixteen state limits at a glance
- Garden shed and ancillary room
- Fence and privacy screen
- Sources and review date
Source: Building codes of the 16 states and BauGB §§ 30 to 35; checked August 2026
Four measurements instead of one simple number
Brutto-Rauminhalt is gross volume in m³, Brutto-Grundfläche gross floor area in m². Wall height counts too, so an attic or storage room changes the calculation.
Use matters too: rooms, toilets, combustion appliances or a link to the main building create separate conditions. Measure the whole structure, roof projections included, as the applicable code defines it.
Built-up area, outer area and plot boundary
The exemption often applies only outside the Außenbereich, the legally defined outer area. Inside it, the project must fit under § 34 BauGB or a development plan under § 30 BauGB. In the outer area, § 35 BauGB is stricter, and size alone does not make a small structure lawful.
The sixteen state limits at a glance
The table places state-law rules side by side in the units each provision uses. A missing value is not permission; the linked office starts the review.
| State | Value | Legal basis | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baden-Württemberg | Garage: The appendix specifies a floor area of up to 50 m² for garages. The applicable measure is floor area, not the gross volume. Buildings without habitable rooms: Buildings without habitable rooms and certain other requirements: 40 m³ in the Innenbereich, 20 m³ in the Außenbereich. Fences: no general height value confirmed For the fencing, no uniform maximum value for the Innenbereich and Außenbereich from the permit-free list was confirmed. | § 50 Abs. 1 LBO i.V.m. Anhang | Source Baden-Württemberg |
| Bavaria | Garage outside the Außenbereich: 50 m² area Garages including covered parking spaces are permit-free up to 50 m². The legal limit refers to the area, not the gross volume. Building without habitable rooms: 75 m³ in the Innenbereich; 20 m³ in the Außenbereich Art. 57 Abs. 1 Nr. 1 letter a distinguishes between Innenbereich and Außenbereich. Garden shed: 75 m³ or 20 m³ in the Außenbereich The permit-free status also depends on use, combustion appliances, habitable rooms and location. Enclosure: no general maximum height value in Art. 57 Abs. 2 Nr. 5 Walls and enclosures are permit-free there; building setback and local law remain unaffected. | Art. 57 Abs. 1 Nr. 1 Buchst. b BayBO | Source Bavaria |
| Berlin | Garages: up to 30 m³ gross volume. Permit-free status only applies under the legal conditions of location and use. Buildings without habitable rooms: up to 10 m³ in the Außenbereich In the Außenbereich the narrower limits of the catalog apply; Building planning law remains unaffected. Enclosures: up to 2 m procedural freedom does not replace the examination of neighbour law, monument protection or local regulations. | § 61 Abs. 1 Nr. 1 Buchst. b und Nr. 7 Buchst. a BauO Bln | Source Berlin |
| Brandenburg | Buildings without habitable rooms, toilets or combustion appliances: 75 m³ gross volume Not in the Außenbereich; Garages, stables and sales and exhibition buildings are excluded. Garages and covered parking spaces: 50 m² gross floor area Average wall height up to 3 m, per building plot, except in the Außenbereich. Fences in built-up areas: 2 m walls and fences up to 2 m are permit-free outside of the Außenbereich (land outside a built-up area). Open without a base enclosures: without a general height limit. Open without a base enclosures for properties are permit-free; other public law requirements remain unaffected. | § 61 Abs. 2 Nr. 1, Nr. 4 und Nr. 7 BbgBO | Source Brandenburg |
| Bremen | § 61 Abs. 1 Nr. 1 Letter a BremLBO – small buildings: 12 m² gross floor area Single-storey buildings up to 10 square meters gross floor area, garden tool sheds up to 12 square meters, each except in the Außenbereich (land outside a built-up area). § 61 Abs. 1 Nr. 1 letter b BremLBO – Garages: 50 m² gross floor area Garages including covered parking spaces with an average wall height of up to 3 meters and a total of up to 50 square meters per building plot, except in the Außenbereich (land outside a built-up area). § 61 Abs. 1 BremLBO – Walls and enclosures: 2 m walls including retaining walls and structural enclosures up to 2 meters high, except in the Außenbereich sites. | § 61 Abs. 1 BremLBO | Source Bremen |
| Hamburg | Garage or covered parking space for means of mobility: wall height up to 3 m, gross floor area up to 50 m² per main building Annex to § 61 Abs. 1 Nr. 1b HBauO; Measurement is an area, not a volume; except in the Außenbereich. Exceptions: In the Außenbereich not exempt from this number. Single-storey outbuilding without habitable rooms (garden shed type): up to 30 m³ gross volume per main building Appendix to § 61 Abs. 1 Nr. 1a HBauO; except in the Außenbereich. Walls and enclosures: height up to 2 m Appendix to § 61 Abs. 1 Nr. 7a HBauO, applies except in the Außenbereich. Exceptions: In the Außenbereich, only open, without a base enclosures for agricultural/forestry properties without a specified height limit are exempt from the procedure (No. 7b). | Anlage zu § 61 Abs. 1 HBauO | Source Hamburg |
| Hesse | Building without habitable rooms: 30 m³ enclosed space Without habitable rooms, toilets or combustion appliances and without sales or exhibition purposes. Garages: 50 m² floor area The appendix to HBO lists garages including storage rooms; Further reservations of the annex must be observed. Fences: no general nationwide height exemption in this fact. Height and design specifications can result from building planning law, § 91 HBO and municipal statutes. | Anlage zu § 63 HBO, Abschnitt I Nr. 1.2 | Source Hesse |
| Lower Saxony | Garage: Up to two garages, each with a maximum floor area of 30 m². The official provision measures the limit based on the floor area, not the gross volume. Buildings without habitable rooms: Up to 40 m³ gross volume, in the Außenbereich up to 20 m³ if the other requirements are met. Enclosure Innenbereich: Enclosures up to 2 m high are permit-free. Außenbereich enclosure: In the Außenbereich only as an annex to a building with habitable rooms no more than 50 m away. | Anhang Nr. 1.1 und 1.2 NBauO | Source Lower Saxony |
| Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania | Single-storey buildings without a special purpose: 10 m² gross floor area Except in the Außenbereich permit-free (§ 61 Abs. 1 Nr. 1 letter a). Buildings/parts of buildings without habitable rooms and combustion appliances (including garages, garden sheds, tool sheds): 40 m² gross floor area, wall height up to 3 m Except in the Außenbereich, permit-free (§ 61 Abs. 1 Nr. 1 letter b); Since the 2026 amendment, a uniform area for garages and other outbuildings without a habitable room (previously separate: garage 30 m², other small buildings 10 m²). Agricultural and forestry storage buildings: 150 m² gross floor area, eaves wall height up to 5 m, only for storing things or for temporary protection of animals (§ 61 Abs. 1 Nr. 1 letter c). Terrace covers: 40 m² § 61 Abs. 1 Nr. 1 letter g; Before the 2026 amendment, the limit was 30 m². Walls and enclosures: 2 m high Except in the Außenbereich permit-free (§ 61 Abs. 1 Nr. 7 letter a). Open enclosures of agricultural or forestry land in the Außenbereich: without general height limit § 61 Abs. 1 Nr. 7 letter b; only applies to open (not closed) enclosures of agricultural or forestry operations. | § 61 Abs. 1 Nr. 1 Buchstabe b und Nr. 7 LBauO M-V (Änderungsgesetz vom 26. Mai 2026, GVOBl. M-V 2026 Nr. 16) | Source Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania |
| North Rhine-Westphalia | Garage/covered parking space: 30 m² gross floor area Average wall height up to 3 m, not in the Außenbereich. The legal limit refers to the gross floor area, not the gross volume. Buildings without habitable rooms: 75 m³ gross volume. In the Außenbereich only for agricultural or forestry operations and without sales or exhibition purposes. Fencing in urban areas: 2 m walls and fencing up to 2 m are permit-free except in the Außenbereich. Enclosure Außenbereich: without general height limit Open enclosures without a base of agricultural or forestry operations are permit-free; other public law requirements remain unaffected. | § 62 Abs. 1 Nr. 1 Buchst. a BauO NRW 2018 | Source North Rhine-Westphalia |
| Rhineland-Palatinate | Building without habitable rooms: 50 m³; in the Außenbereich 10 m³ § 62 Abs. 1 Nr. 1 letter a LBauO also requires the absence of habitable rooms, toilets and combustion appliances. Garages and covered parking spaces: 50 m² floor area. Additionally, wall heights, ridge height and exceptions for Außenbereich and monument surroundings apply. Fences: no general nationwide height value. Additional requirements may arise from neighbour law, Bebauungsplan (legally binding local development plan) or municipal statutes. | § 62 LBauO Rheinland-Pfalz | Source Rhineland-Palatinate |
| Saarland | Small buildings, § 61 Abs. 1 Nr. 1 letter a LBO: single-story buildings up to 75 m³ gross volume, except in the Außenbereich Garages and covered parking spaces, § 61 Abs. 1 Nr. 1 letter b LBO: single-story garages including built-in storage room, covered parking spaces and single-story bicycle buildings, each with an average wall height of up to 3 m above the ground surface and up to 36 m² gross floor area, except in the Außenbereich - the law here measures an area, not a volume Agricultural and forestry buildings without combustion appliances, § 61 Abs. 1 Nr. 1 letter c LBO: up to 100 m² gross floor area and eaves wall height up to 5 m Gazebos in approved allotment gardens, § 61 Abs. 1 Nr. 1 letter e LBO: permit-free without size information Terrace roofing, balcony roofing and balcony glazing, § 61 Abs. 1 Nr. 1 letters h and i LBO: permit-free without specifying size Fences and privacy walls in the Innenbereich, § 61 Abs. 1 Nr. 7 letter a LBO: up to 2 m high, except in the Außenbereich Enclosures in the Außenbereich, § 61 Abs. 1 Nr. 7 letter b LBO: only open enclosures and pasture fences for land used for agriculture or forestry; the law does not specify a height limit for this Retaining walls, § 61 Abs. 1 Nr. 7 letter c LBO: up to 2 m high Swimming pool, § 61 Abs. 1 Nr. 8 letter b LBO: Swimming pool including airborne enclosures, except in the Außenbereich | § 61 Abs. 1 LBO | Source Saarland |
| Saxony | Ancillary facilities: permit-free projects according to Appendix 1. Boundaries, location and other requirements are based on Appendix 1 to § 61 SächsBO and other public law regulations. | § 61 Abs. 1 Nr. 1 und Nr. 7 SächsBO | Source Saxony |
| Saxony-Anhalt | Garage: up to 3 m average wall height and 50 m² floor area § 60 Abs. 1 Nr. 1 letter b, except in the Außenbereich; the provision specifies area and wall height, not gross volume. Single-storey building: up to 10 m² floor area § 60 Abs. 1 Nr. 1 letter a, except in the Außenbereich. Walls and enclosures: up to 2 m § 60 Abs. 1 Nr. 7 Letter a: up to 2 m, except in the Außenbereich; Open agricultural enclosures without bases are regulated separately. | § 60 Abs. 1 Nr. 7 Buchst. a BauO LSA | Source Saxony-Anhalt |
| Schleswig-Holstein | Garage: 50 m². Required garages and covered parking spaces are permit-free with a gross floor area of up to 50 m² and an average wall height of up to 3 m. The legal limit refers to the area, not the gross volume. Buildings without habitable rooms: Up to 30 m³ gross volume, in the Außenbereich up to 10 m³ if there are no toilets or combustion appliances. Fences in the Innenbereich: 2 m. Retaining walls and fencing up to 2 m high are permit-free outside the Außenbereich. Enclosure Außenbereich: only for agricultural or forestry operations Open enclosures without a base are only mentioned for land owned by agricultural or forestry operations; a general height value is not given there. | § 61 Abs. 1 Nr. 1 und Nr. 7 LBO | Source Schleswig-Holstein |
| Thuringia | Garages and carports: up to 50 m² floor area and up to 3 m average wall height The permit-free status applies according to § 63 ThürBO under the location and usage conditions specified there; in particular, it does not apply without restriction in the Außenbereich. Single-storey buildings without habitable rooms: up to 10 m² floor area. According to the regulations, the limit applies outside the Außenbereich; further exceptions and other public law requirements remain in place. Walls and enclosures: up to 2 m Within the districts that are built together, walls including retaining walls and enclosures up to 2 m are permit-free; In the Außenbereich, this height rule does not generally apply. | § 63 Abs. 1 Nr. 1 Buchst. a und b sowie Nr. 7 Buchst. a ThürBO | Source Thuringia |
Stand: August 2026. The table records rule types, not the full legality test. A changed state code or local by-law requires a fresh site review.
Why states use different measurements
Building regulation is state law. Each state has its own catalogue and timetable, so revision dates differ widely.
The catalogues measure different things: floor area, volume, wall height or boundary distance, so figures compared without their reference measure mislead.
Compare road contributions by state and state geoportals.
Garden shed and ancillary room
A garden shed is not assessed by floor area alone. Sleeping space or heating can change its category. Even below the volume in the table, fire safety, drainage, setbacks and servicing may remain open. Check those points before ordering a prefabricated structure.
- UseHabitable room, garage or ancillary building
- DimensionsArea, volume and height
- LocationB-Plan, built-up area or outer area
Source: Building codes of the 16 states and BauGB §§ 30 to 35; checked August 2026
Garage, carport and canopy
Garages often use square metres and wall height, while sheds use cubic metres. A carport may have its own category. An estate agent's listing does not decide the classification. Check turning space, access, drainage and whether it counts toward another limit.
Fence and privacy screen
Fences, walls and privacy screens often follow a built-up-area rule. In the outer area, only open, foundation-free or agricultural fences may be exempt. No table value means no state-wide exemption can be inferred from neighbour law or local custom. Boundary location and local design rules still require separate evidence.
Review before buying the plot
Before notarisation, ask the municipality in writing and draw everything, built and planned, on one site plan. That is what shows whether location, boundary length, wall height or existing area defeats the exemption.
Purchase costs are separate: Land transfer tax by state, tax rates on acquisition, notary costs and closing say nothing about building-law eligibility.
Do not confuse permit-free with buildable. A GrundCheck report connects parcel and planning data before the next step. Check a property.
See also monument listing by state, road development contributions by state and state geoportals.
Sources and review date
The federal planning rules are § 30 BauGB, § 34 BauGB and § 35 BauGB. The Bundesministerium für Wohnen explains the federal framework; the permit-free categories sit in state rules.
For boundary disputes, § 903 BGB on ownership and § 1004 BGB on removal claims may also matter. They do not replace a municipal review. Stand: August 2026. Further reading: building permit and pre-application, monument protection by state and geoportals by state.