GermanyCan I claim compensation if tolerated interference damages my property?
Yes, if you must legally tolerate interference (e.g., noise, smoke, vibrations) that exceeds the reasonable threshold for your property use, you may claim monetary compensation under BGB § 906(2).
What the Law Says
German law recognizes that neighbors cannot always eliminate all interference — but it also ensures fairness when one party bears disproportionate burden. BGB § 906 sets strict conditions for when interference must be tolerated, and crucially, when compensation is due.
Under BGB § 906(1), you must tolerate certain interferences — like noise, smoke, vibrations, or odors — only if they cause *insignificant impairment* ('unwesentliche Beeinträchtigung') to your property use. This is generally presumed if legal limits (e.g., emission thresholds in the Federal Immission Control Act) are not exceeded.
Section 906(2) adds a critical exception: even if interference *exceeds* the insignificant threshold, you may still have to tolerate it — but *only* if it results from customary local use ('ortsübliche Benutzung') of the neighbor’s land *and* cannot be prevented by economically reasonable measures. In that case, you gain a right to claim an 'angemessener Ausgleich in Geld' — a reasonable monetary compensation — if the interference impairs your property’s use or yield *beyond what is tolerable*.
Importantly, § 906(3) bans interference caused by special pipelines or artificial conduits — those are never permissible, no matter how minor.
Statutory TextDer Eigentümer eines Grundstücks kann die Zuführung von Gasen, Dämpfen, Gerüchen, Rauch, Ruß, Wärme, Geräusch, Erschütterungen und ähnliche von einem anderen Grundstück ausgehende Einwirkungen insoweit nicht verbieten, als die Einwirkung die Benutzung seines Grundstücks nicht oder nur unwesentlich beeinträchtigt.
— BGB § 906(1) — German Civil Code
Statutory TextHat der Eigentümer hiernach eine Einwirkung zu dulden, so kann er von dem Benutzer des anderen Grundstücks einen angemessenen Ausgleich in Geld verlangen, wenn die Einwirkung eine ortsübliche Benutzung seines Grundstücks oder dessen Ertrag über das zumutbare Maß hinaus beeinträchtigt.
— BGB § 906(2) sentence 2 — German Civil Code
What Courts Have Said
The Bundesgerichtshof has clarified that the right to compensation under § 906(2) is not automatic — it requires proof that the tolerated interference goes beyond what is reasonably bearable for your property’s ordinary use.
The court confirmed that a neighbor who must tolerate immissions (e.g., industrial noise) exceeding normal thresholds may claim monetary compensation — but only if the impairment demonstrably harms their property’s use or income beyond the socially acceptable limit.
What to Do
Document the interference (e.g., sound measurements, photos, logs of timing/frequency) and its impact on your property use or income.
Check whether official immission limits (e.g., from the Federal Immission Control Act) are exceeded — if yes, tolerance may not apply at all.
Verify whether the neighbor’s activity qualifies as 'ortsübliche Benutzung' (e.g., farming, small-scale workshop) — unusual or intensified uses may disqualify tolerance.
Send a written request for compensation citing BGB § 906(2); if refused, consult a lawyer to assess litigation or mediation options.
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Not legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: June 2026.