Outdoor fires; application for a special permit

If you wish to light an open fire (e.g. a campfire), special attention must be paid to the dangers posed by open fires. In particular, certain distances from flammable objects must be maintained.

The following generally applies: There must be no fire hazards for the surrounding area.

Open fires outdoors with suitable fuel (especially untreated wood) are generally not permitted if the following distances are observed:

• At least 100 m from highly flammable materials and
• At least 5 m from buildings and other flammable materials; permission for an exception can be requested from the municipality.
• At least 100 m from a forest; for shorter distances, a permit is required, which can be applied for from the lower forestry authority (Amt für Ernährung Landwirtschaft und Forsten).

Please also note:

• The fire must be extinguished in strong winds.
• The fire must be supervised at all times by a sufficient number of suitable persons.
• Fire and embers must be extinguished and fire residues must be properly removed when you leave the site.
• The consent of the landowner is always required for lighting and operating open fires in the open air outside officially designated areas.
• The general obligation to protect nature should be observed when lighting a fire.
• Further regulations may apply in protected areas and may be contained in protected area ordinances. Further information on this can be obtained from the lower nature conservation authorities.
• If the fire is lit as part of a public entertainment event, which may be the case depending on the specific circumstances of the individual case, the public entertainment event as such generally requires notification to the local authority at least one week in advance and, in individual cases, a permit may also be required, provided that no overriding special regulations apply (see "Public entertainment; notification and application for a permit" under "Related topics").
• In the case of larger fires, it may be advisable to inform the municipality and the integrated control center in advance to avoid false alarms.

In individual cases, the municipalities may issue further instructions and require special precautions. The local authority can provide information about this on site.