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Five offences you can be fined for in Austria’s great outdoors

Austria is famous for its beautiful nature, attracting people from all over the world. But while spending time outdoors, you need to follow certain rules if you do not want to end up paying high fines.

Published: 22 April 2024 13:43 CEST
Five offences you can be fined for in Austria's great outdoors
People in the Austrian nature. Photo by Matthias Münning on Unsplash

Austria is a great place for all nature lovers, with its beautiful mountains, forests, lakes, and famous national parks. However, while enjoying the outdoors, it is important to be aware of what you are not allowed to do. Here are five things that you should avoid if you do not want to end up paying heavy fines. 

Wild camping is not allowed

It might seem tempting to pitch your tent in a quiet place up a mountain or, perhaps, near a beautiful lake. But in Austria, it is important to remember that wild camping is in general prohibited, and you can only put up your tent in designated areas, such as camping sites.

If you do not follow these rules and get caught, you will be fined €5 to €500. If you violate these rules in a nature reserve, national park, or special protection area, you can be fined up to €14,500.

Wild camping is something that you should avoid while spending time in Austria. Photo by Kevin Ianeselli on Unsplash

You cannot make a fire in a forest without permission

If you do not have permission from the forest owner, whether it refers to the state or a private person, starting a fire in an Austrian forest is a very bad idea. It is illegal, and this rule covers not only the main forest area but also the “combat zone” around it, where the density of trees decreases, and even nearby areas if there is a risk of fire spreading.

If you violate this rule, you could be fined up to €3,630 or even spend a short time in jail. Forest protection officers are on the lookout for rule-breakers and can force you to leave the forest or even detain you.

READ ALSO: Four Austrian national parks worth paying a visit

Be careful when picking berries and mushrooms

If you want to pick berries and mushrooms in the forest, it is important to keep in mind that they usually belong to the forest owner. However, if the owner does not forbid the picking with a sign, it is usually okay for you to pick a bit, but not too much.

There are some rules regarding the amount that you can pick without permission. You cannot pick and bring home more than two kilograms of mushrooms in one day, and you are not allowed to create or join big mushroom or berry-picking events. Furthermore, you cannot pick anything from the forest and use it for selling.

Breaking these rules could get you in trouble. If you are caught in a big picking event without permission, you might have to pay a fine of up to €150 or even go to jail for a week.

In some places like national parks or nature reserves, there might be special rules about picking mushrooms, so if you want to pick something there, it is a good idea to check what is allowed with the local authorities.

You can pick berries in Austria, but not too much. Photo by Ron Lach on Pexels.

Do not take wood home from the forest

You can spend as much time as you want enjoying the forest, but you cannot just take wood home with you without permission. Trees and wood in the forest belong to the owner, so you need their permission before collecting any kind of wood, even fallen branches.

Taking wood without permission can get you in trouble. The forest owner could sue you for messing with their property or causing damage. The law also says that you are not allowed to take whole trees or damage trees, roots, or branches without permission. However, while it is generally not allowed to take wood, there are exceptions for small amounts, like a few branches, as long as it does not harm the tree.

Breaking these rules could mean getting fined up to €730 or even going to jail for a week. Forest protection officers can kick you out of the forest if you break the rules, report you to the authorities, or take away any wood you collected illegally.

You cannot bike everywhere

If you want to bike in the forest, remember that certain areas, such as fire-prone zones or areas with forestry infrastructure, can be restricted from access for safety and conservation reasons.

Unauthorised biking in forests can harm the environment. To stay on the safe side, you can choose to follow marked paths and signs.

If you get caught biking in an area where you are not allowed to do so, you might have to pay a fine ranging from €150 to €730.

READ NEXT: EXPLAINED: Everything you need to know about camping in Austria

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LIVING IN AUSTRIA

‘Haushaltsversicherung’: How does Austria’s home insurance work?

'Haushaltsversicherung' is one of Austria's most popular types of insurance. It is not mandatory, but it is certainly worth evaluating, especially as it comes with many possible add-ons.

Published: 2 May 2024 15:22 CEST
'Haushaltsversicherung': How does Austria's home insurance work?

Austrians are certainly obsessed with insurance coverage, and one of the most popular and common ones is known as the “Haushaltsversicherung”—if you don’t have it already, you have certainly heard of it. Here’s what you need to know about household insurance.

Firstly, this insurance covers damages to “all movable objects within your own four walls,” as Austria’s Chamber of Labour (AK) explains. This includes furniture, carpets, and electrical appliances. It would also cover damages caused by fire, storms, water, burglary, and glass breakage. 

Certain types of insurance, such as private liability insurance or mandatory dog liability insurance, are almost always combined with household insurance—another reason why the Haushaltsversicherung is so popular in Austria.

READ ALSO: What kind of insurance do I need to have in Austria?

However, there are enormous differences in premiums and benefits, so experts suggest you check precisely what you need before taking out insurance. The AK also says you should talk to an insurance advisor to learn more about your specific case and needs, particularly if you have any valuables in your home. 

Additionally, they said: “It makes sense to check your policy every few years to ensure that you are properly insured. This guarantees that the sums insured and the risks included are up-to-date and sufficient”.

What should I keep an eye on when reviewing policies?

Of course, different companies have their own offers, and they are often highly customisable to fit your apartment and lifestyle—some things you need to be aware of, though.

Certain policies are tied to the size of your apartment, while others will have a lump sum regardless of the size of your place. Policies also usually differ depending on whether you live in an apartment or a house. 

While most insurance will cover glass breakage (such as when a hail storm breaks your window, for example), some might have it as an add-on (wahlweise mit Glasbruch). 

You may also add other types of insurance to your household insurance, the most common being mandatory dog liability insurance (Hunde-Haftpflicht), legal insurance (Straf-Rechtsschutz), and sports insurance.

READ ALSO: Should I take out insurance before skiing in Austria?

It’s worth it to read each policy, but you should know some common clauses beforehand. For example, insurance often won’t cover burglary costs if your house has not been properly secured and locked. This might seem obvious, but since door knobs don’t open from the outside without the key, people often leave their homes, especially for short errands, and don’t lock the doors all the way. Insurance and safety experts recommend you get in the habit of locking your home doors.

It’s also important to check if your insurance will pay you “Neuwert” or “Zeitwert” in case of damage. 

A Neuwert means the insurance will pay for a replacement object, regardless of how old the stolen or broken one was. However, many insurance policies still contain the so-called “Zeitwert”, something like “current value”, so you wouldn’t receive an amount that could pay for a new product. Instead, a loss of value of around 10 percent per year could be expected for most objects.

What should I do if there is damage to my home?

If you see any damage to your home from burglary, accident or other types, you need to notify your insurer immediately and report the damage you have suffered. 

The insurance conditions usually stipulate a maximum period of three days for reporting a claim in property insurance. The Chamber of Labour also recommends that you send a written notification of the claim (preferably by registered mail, they add).

“Make a list of all items that have been destroyed or lost and enclose it with your report to both the insurer and the security authorities”, they said. And, of course, in the event of fire burglary or robbery, always inform the fire department or police authorities.

READ ALSO: EXPLAINED: The Austrian insurance for if you get sued – or want to sue someone

How long does the insurance last, and how much does it cost?

The insurance term is usually specified in the counteract. In general, though, you can terminate it after the third year with one month’s notice if the contract has not already expired.

If you move house or move abroad, you can terminate your household insurance contract. You can cancel the insurance the day before the move begins (preferably by registered letter).

If you do not exercise your right of termination, the insurance will remain valid during the move and in the new home.

Regarding prices, they can be as low as a few euros a month (such as insurance specifically tailored to students living in shared flats) to several hundred a month if you have a large place with plenty of valuables or include several add-ons. 

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