As soon as it is warm enough, many people throw their grill again. If you have your own garden or a park nearby where you can grill, you are happy about the nice weather and delicious food. But what if I only have a small balcony? Can I grill on the balcony or is that forbidden?
Hardly any other topic sparks as much argument between neighbors as grilling. The smoke development and the fragrance of sausages and meat are also annoying when your stomach growles. Or if you have just hung fresh laundry.
ButThe topic is a gray area purely legallyAnd so not to answer a flat rate. Because whether grilling is legal outside depends not only on the mood of your neighbors, but also on your living situation and your lease.
Also read:
Is there a ban on barbecues for balconies?
“Grilling on the balcony, the terrace or in the garden is tenantsbasicallyallowed. Neighbors have to accept this, ”writes theGerman tenant association (DME).
Accordingly, grilling at home represents a kind of fundamental right, even with rental apartments. But it's not that easy. Because the respective tenancy law and the consideration of neighbors are two very decisive factors here. If the rental agreement or in the house rules are expressly that you cannot grill on the balcony, you have to stick to it. Otherwise there is a risk of a warning or even termination of the apartment.
If there is a legal dispute due to a violation, you have to pay for the costs. The same applies in the event of a fire service. And the depression of a fire engine candamnedbecome expensive.
When is grilling on the balcony forbidden?
In addition to tenancy law and the house rules, that also applies when grilling on the balconyFederal Immission Protection Act (BImSchG). This law is intended to protect people and the environment from harmful environmental effects through emissions into air, water and soil.
Strong smoke not only burdens nature through grilling on the balcony, but can also restrict the neighbors in their basic freedom. Depending on how long the smell and smoke nuisance lasts, you commit an administrative offense and can be deserved to a fine.
More reading material:
Caution is required, especially when grilling with charcoal on the balcony.Because glowing coals always smoke and also mount the risk of burns by sparking. Here you should make sure that your balcony plants do not catch fire.
In addition, noise pollution can occur with grill celebrations.If the official night's sleep is broken from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., it can be expensive. If residents call the police, the grilling is very quick anyway.
Tipp:The German Tenants' Association advises that you prefer to use electric grills with aluminum shell on balconies instead of grilling with charcoal.
How often is grilling on the balcony allowed?
Whether and if so, how often you can grill outside, is a matter of the city and differs from region to region. Here the respective regional courts come to a wide variety of judgments.
Bayern are allowed to grill 5 times a year at home. In Bonn (NRW), the tenants can grill all the summer once a month. In Aachen you can even grill 2 times a month from 5:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. In Hamburg, however, grilling on open charcoal fire is completely prohibited.
Ultimately, it always depends on how strongly the neighbors feel disturbed by grilling.Consideration here is the top priority.It is often recommended to inform the neighbors about the upcoming grill party in an open notice - preferably 2 days in advance.
Instead of throwing in the grill every day, the best thing to do is hold back a little so as not to overuse the nerves of your neighbors. Switch off with your friends and do not constantly organize the barbecue in the same place. Then the neighbors may look over one or the other smoke flag.

What is the regulation for condominiums?
As a owner, you have your apartment and balcony itself and are therefore not dependent on the rules in a rental agreement. However, in most cases there is a community of owners. And if this has given a barbecue ban on balconies, you have to stick to it.
Reading tip:
So avoids her dispute when grilling on the balcony
Most of the time, common sense is enough to save trouble when grilling. If you don't want to risk the good neighborhood because of a few sausages, you should be willing to compromise instead of stubbornly insisting on your own right (if available).
1. Do not smoke:A charcoal grill naturally smokes the most. Gas grills and electric grills are significantly more environmentally friendly - and you don't need to grill forever. If it has to be charcoal, drip shells reduce the smoke. Also special carbon made of coconut shells(here at Amazon)* should vapor less.
2. Keep distance:Not only on the balcony, but also in the garden, you should place your grill as far away from your neighbors and their apartment as possible - preferably so that the smoke does not pull in the wind direction of the neighbors.
3. Announce grill evening:Let your neighbor know if you plan to grill outside. Then you can adjust to it and keep the windows closed. Or you invite the neighbors directly to grill. Even if you do not appear, you will think twice about whether you want to get to you at the regulatory office.
4th grill in the afternoon:Excessive grill evenings until late into the night often run the risk of being reported by residents as a night -fashioned disorder. How about a grill party in the afternoon instead? You can start at noon and a grillMake it from it that starts earlier and ends earlier.
5. Caution instead of forbearance:If you grill on the balcony or live close to a row house settlement, you should be careful that no dangerous spark flight is created. Because you are not only responsible for yourself, but also for everyone. So never make an open fire - especially not without a fire -proof surface.