GermanyWhat is the legal standard for tolerable interference (§ 906 BGB)?
Under § 906 BGB, property owners must tolerate neighbor-caused interference (e.g., noise, smoke, vibrations) if it only insignificantly impairs use of their land — typically when legal limits or local customs are not exceeded.
What the Law Says
§ 906 BGB sets the legal framework for when a property owner in Germany must accept interference from a neighboring property — even if it’s annoying or inconvenient. It balances property rights with practical coexistence in densely populated areas.
The law distinguishes between two main scenarios where interference must be tolerated: (1) when the impact is insignificant ('unwesentliche Beeinträchtigung'), and (2) when it results from customary local use ('ortsübliche Benutzung') and cannot be prevented by economically reasonable measures.
In the first case, interference like noise, smoke, or vibrations is generally considered insignificant if it stays within statutory or regulatory limits — such as those set by the Federal Immission Control Act (BImSchG) or technical guidelines reflecting the state of the art. These include legally defined 'Grenz- oder Richtwerte' (limit or guideline values).
In the second case, even if the interference is more than trivial, it must still be accepted if it arises from typical local usage (e.g., operating a small workshop in an industrial zone) and stopping it would require disproportionate expense. However, the affected owner may claim 'angemessenen Ausgleich in Geld' — fair monetary compensation — if the interference exceeds what is reasonably bearable for normal use or income from their land.
Importantly, § 906(3) explicitly bans interference delivered via a 'besondere Leitung' (special conduit), such as pipes or ducts intentionally channeling smoke or noise onto another’s property — that is always unlawful.
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 TextEine unwesentliche Beeinträchtigung liegt in der Regel vor, wenn die in Gesetzen oder Rechtsverordnungen festgelegten Grenz- oder Richtwerte von den nach diesen Vorschriften ermittelten und bewerteten Einwirkungen nicht überschritten werden.
— BGB § 906(1) — German Civil Code
Statutory TextDas Gleiche gilt insoweit, als eine wesentliche Beeinträchtigung durch eine ortsübliche Benutzung des anderen Grundstücks herbeigeführt wird und nicht durch Maßnahmen verhindert werden kann, die Benutzern dieser Art wirtschaftlich zumutbar sind.
— BGB § 906(2) — 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) — German Civil Code
Statutory TextDie Zuführung durch eine besondere Leitung ist unzulässig.
— BGB § 906(3) — German Civil Code
What Courts Have Said
German courts apply § 906 BGB strictly to real-world conditions — focusing on measurable thresholds, local context, and proportionality.
Noise from a neighboring property was found actionable under § 906 BGB because it exceeded locally customary levels and materially impaired the plaintiff’s residential use — confirming that ‘ortsueblich’ and ‘wesentliche Beeintraechtigung’ are fact-sensitive, not theoretical standards.
What to Do
Check whether the interference exceeds official limit values (e.g., noise limits in DIN ISO 1996 or BImSchG regulations).
Assess whether the neighbor’s activity is 'ortsüblich' for your area (e.g., farming in rural zones vs. loud machinery in residential neighborhoods).
Document impacts (e.g., noise logs, photos, expert reports) to support claims for compensation or injunction.
Request compensation ('angemessener Ausgleich') in writing if interference is tolerable but burdensome — no court filing needed initially.
Consult a lawyer before seeking an injunction — courts rarely order cessation unless limits are clearly breached or a 'besondere Leitung' is involved.
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Related Questions
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.