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GERMANY EXPLAINED

Reader question: Can I have a barbecue on my balcony in Germany?

Grilling is a popular pastime in the summer in Germany. But can you do it on your balcony?

Reader question: Can I have a barbecue on my balcony in Germany?
Archive photo shows a BBQ in Gotha, Thuringia. Photo: picture alliance / dpa | Michael Reichel

Germany has previously been named the grilling world champion, according to a study by Focus Media in 2011.

However, not all of us are lucky enough to have a sprawling garden and, especially in cities like Berlin, Frankfurt and Munich, balconies are generally considered a good substitute. 

READ ALSO: Eight signs that summer has arrived in Germany

The question of whether barbecuing on your balcony is verboten, however, is a trickier one.

According to the German Tenant’s Association (DMB) barbecuing on balconies of rented apartments is, in general, permitted. The DMB states that it does not matter in this context whether the barbecue is on the balcony, the terrace or in the garden.

This is, however, not an excuse to grill away, as the law contains some circumstances in which barbecues are not allowed at home. In general, a fireplace on the balcony without a grill is not allowed, and all open fires must be avoided.

Apart from this, there are a few particularities that determine whether it’s safe to break open the Bratwurst and Spargel.

Contract dependent

Tenants who have signed an agreement in which barbecuing is expressly forbidden are unfortunately not allowed to barbecue on their rented property.

The landlord has the right to include this clause in the rental contract according to a ruling of the Regional Court of Essen (10 S 438/01).

Those who use a barbecue despite this contract ban can even be threatened with immediate dismissal from their property.

Mind the smoke

Regardless of the rental agreement, all neighbours are protected from being disturbed and, in a barbecuing scenario, that means they have the right to be safe from excessive smoke.

In the very worst-case tenants wouldn’t be evicted, but could face a fine under the Emission Control Act. This act naturally applies to both tenants and homeowners.

Photo: DPA

How much smoke is too much?

This generally depends on the exchange you have with your neighbours. Technically, you or your neighbours can take legal action against each other for an excessive amount of smoke emanating from the other’s barbecue.

Take our advice and use an electric grill. Alternatively, warn your neighbours beforehand or invite them over to enjoy the barbecue to avoid major disagreements.

Federal peculiarities

Whilst your rental agreement and house rules are paramount in deciding whether you can have a barbecue on your balcony this summer, the rules aren’t uniform across Germany.

In Bavaria, barbecue lovers are only allowed to use their gardens for a barbecue up to five times a year. Stuttgart only allows barbecuing on the terrace three times a year, or for a total of six hours.

READ ALSO: Why we love Germany’s sweet summer snacks

In Bonn, barbecue fans are permitted to grill on their terrace or balcony once a month if neighbours are warned in advance. In Hamburg, barbecuing on the balcony with charcoal is totally prohibited.

Put simply, a barbecue on your balcony is allowed in Germany provided you don’t smoke out your neighbours. Be careful though, as your rental contract could potentially include your agreement to not have a barbecue on your private property and put you at risk of eviction.

On top of that, check what your particular region has to say before you start setting up a daily barbecue.

Member comments

  1. The article begs the question . . . why not an extractor/filter hood? If you can have one in your kitchen, then why not install one on the balcony?

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READER QUESTIONS

How much should tourists really tip in Germany?

Some suggest that tourists from the US have pushed their tipping culture on metropolitan cities in Germany. Others say foreign nationals in Germany don’t tip enough. Here's what you need to know.

How much should tourists really tip in Germany?

As a visitor in Germany, or a newcomer to the country, knowing a couple key things helps to ensure a smooth transaction.

Initiating the payment process

The first is knowing how to ask for the bill: Wir möchten zahlen bitte (We’d like to pay please), is a tested and true simple option.

Then you just have to be able to navigate a couple likely follow-up questions: Mit karte oder bar? (With card or cash?) And, Zusammen oder getrennt? (All together or separate?)

In casual establishments, oftentimes when you wish to pay by card, the server will ask you to follow them to the cash register to complete the transaction.

Since paying at the register is not uncommon, it’s also common enough to simply get up and walk to the register when you’re ready to pay – especially if you’re short on time.

How to tip like a German

The second thing that’s good to know is how to tip in Germany.

American tourists, coming from the land of mandatory tip-culture, are prone to falling into one of two classic errors. The first is reflexively tipping 20 percent or more, even at places where tips tend to be much more modest. The second would be to think “Nobody tips in Europe,” much to the dismay of every server they come across in Germany.

The general consensus is that tipping is good practice in Germany, especially at any establishment where you are being waited on.

So not necessarily at a Döner kebab shop or an imbiss (snack shop) where you are picking your food up at a counter and very often taking it to go. But certainly at any restaurant where someone takes your order and brings food or drinks to you.

The Local previously inquired about customary tip rates in Germany with an etiquette expert, and also with a sociologist who conducted research on tipping culture – both of whom confirmed that Germans tend to think a five to 10 percent tip is standard.

Of course bigger tips for excellent service are also encouraged, but there are few cases where Germans would consider tipping 20 percent. 

For smaller transactions, like for a couple drinks at a cafe or a bar, a ‘keep the change’ tip is also normal in Germany.

If you were paying for a couple beers that came to €8.90, for example, you might hand the bartender a €10 bill and say “Stimmt so” to indicate that the change is a tip.

Especially compared to the US, it’s true that the expectation to tip is expressed less in Germany. But many Germans do make tipping a common practice. So making a habit to tip modestly when dining out in the country will help you blend in better with the locals.

READ ALSO: Eight unwritten rules that explain how Germany works

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