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READER QUESTIONS

Reader question: What are the rules for mowing your lawn in Austria?

As the weather gets warmer and the outdoors seems inviting once again, those who are lucky enough to have a garden should be mindful of the surprisingly large amount of rules for noise and lawn mowing in your own backyard.

Published: 21 March 2022 15:55 CET
Updated: 16 April 2024 13:59 CEST
lawn mower and grass
The lawn (Photo by Andres Siimon on Unsplash)

Mowing the garden might seem like an easy routine activity for many people who own a garden or land. Still, Austria wouldn’t be Austria if there weren’t many rules and regulations regarding lawn mowing.

As with any other activities associated with noises, lawn mowing is regulated by the municipalities and is a matter for the local police. Unfortunately, that means you could be getting a visit from the police if you don’t follow the rules. Or worse: a passive-aggressive note from an anonymous neighbour.

Laws vary depending on the municipality, and you can find a list of them divided by state here. Don’t forget to check your own Gemeinde rules.

It is not uncommon for specific areas, for example, condominiums and kleingärten, to have their own (often stricter) rules. So you need to be mindful of your landlord rules, building rules, municipal and state rules.

Specific rules

In Vienna, for example, it is forbidden to use any internal combustion equipment (petrol lawnmowers) at all. It is also not permitted to mow your lawn on Saturdays from 12pm to 12am and all day during Sundays and holidays.

Electric lawnmowers could technically still be used during these times, but the general quiet times (Ruhezeiten) apply.

In Innsbruck, there is a regulation forbidding any “noise-inspiring” house of garden work during weekdays (Monday to Saturday) from 12pm to 3pm and 8pm to 6am, and all day for Sunday and public holidays.

Graz has even stricter rules, including an all-year ban on leaf blowers and leaf vacuum cleaners. For lawn mowing and any other work that makes noises, the ban is from Monday to Friday from 7pm to 7am, on Saturdays from 12pm to 3pm, and 7pm to 7am and all day on Sunday and public holidays.

READ MORE: Can I have a barbecue on my balcony in Austria?

In Salzburg, garden tools powered by combustion are also forbidden, like leaf blowers. In addition, in general, lawn mowing is only allowed from Monday to Saturday from 8am to 12pm and from 2pm to 7pm and on Sundays and public holidays from 10am to 12pm.

Austria’s third-largest city Linz is one of the few where there are no specific regulations on lawn mowing – though the Ruhezeiten rules still apply just like any building and Verein regulations that might rule the particular area where you live.

There are no specific regulations in many smaller cities that might get you in trouble with law enforcement.

However, especially where the communities are tighter, it is important to keep in mind how much Austrians value their “quiet times”, the contact with peace and quiet in nature, especially as spring makes it possible to enjoy some sun in their balconies and backyards again.

In doubt, it doesn’t hurt to ask for any unwritten rules that might exist.

What are The Local’s reader questions? 

As part of our service to our readers and members, we often answer questions on life in Austria via email when people get in touch with us. 

When these have value to the greater Local Austria community, we put them together as an article, with ‘reader question’ in the headline. 

All readers of The Local Austria can ask a reader question, i.e. you do not need to be a member. If you do find our reporting valuable however, then please consider signing up. 

Useful vocabulary

Rasenmähen – lawn mowing
Ruhezeiten – quiet periods
Gemeinden – municipalities
Verordnungen – ordinances
Verbrennungsmotoren – internal combustion engines

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For members

PETS

How to register your dog for free in Vienna

If you own a dog and have your main residence in Vienna, you need to register it in the pet database—and now you can do so for free. Here's how.

Published: 26 March 2024 11:31 CET
How to register your dog for free in Vienna

Owning a pet in Vienna comes with many responsibilities, especially if you have a dog. These include paying a yearly tax (€72) and following basic rules such as cleaning up after the animal and keeping dogs leashed unless they are in a leash-free zone.

One of the first steps to owning a dog is chipping it (usually carried out by the breeder or shelter where you got your pet from) and then registering it in the pet database. The registration links the dog’s random chip number to your personal information, ensuring you get him or her back if your pet is ever found wandering the streets. 

Registration is mandatory and usually done in vet’s offices for a fee of around €20. However, many dogs are not registered in Austria.

READ ALSO: What are Austria’s rules for owning pets?

Every year, 500 stray dogs are found and temporarily brought to the animal shelter, where their microchips are read. The information is then compared with the pet database.

“It is noticeable that runaway dogs are often already chipped but not registered in the pet database, even though the Animal Welfare Act requires this,” Ruth Jily, Head of the Veterinary Office, told broadcaster ORF. Because of that, around 60 percent of the dogs cannot be returned to their owners.

What about cats?

Not all cats need to be registered, only those considered “breeding cats”. However, it’s important to note that unneutered outdoor cats are considered breeding cats and must be chipped and registered.

You can also chip and register your house cat. This will help you find them and safely return them to you in case they go outdoors and become lost. 

Free registration of dogs

To encourage dog owners, the city of Vienna has started a new campaign that will run until the end of October 2024. Pet owners can register their dogs for free.

From the end of March to October 2024, Stadtservice Wien and TierQuarTier Wien will be offering free registration of your dogs in the pet database. Stadtservice Wien provides this service in all districts. You can check the locations and dates HERE.

Your dog must already be chipped to register, as dogs cannot be chipped on-site.

People with a valid ID Austria (successor to the Handysignatur) can register their chipped dog online with Stadtservice Wien’s support. Registration is also possible with the basic function of the ID Austria.

READ ALSO:  How to move to Austria with your pets

All others can fill out a registration form on-site. 

You will need a photo ID (e.g. driving license or passport) and proof of the dog’s chip number (e.g. vaccination certificate). The dog itself can stay at home. If you bring your dog with you, it must wear a muzzle, be on a lead and wait outside the Stadtservice Wien mobile office.

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