Report a problem

What is the problem?

Could not attach a screenshot — send without it

Tiny House and Caravan in the Garden: What's Allowed in Germany

01.08.2026 04:06 1 min 2 sources
wp.de DEU + 1 more
Tiny House and Caravan in the Garden: What's Allowed in Germany
© WP

In Brief

Germany has over a million motorhomes. Temporarily parking a caravan in the garden is usually allowed, but long-term use as living space requires a building permit. In Bochum, a couple rents out tiny houses; legality depends on local rules.

Germany has over a million registered motorhomes, and many owners consider their own property as a storage place. According to ARAG expert Tobias Klingelhöfer, temporarily parking a caravan in the garden is generally permitted. However, if used long-term as living space (e.g., with electricity or water connections), a building permit may be required. It is also important to consider neighbors' interests to avoid complaints about shading or noise.

In Bochum, a couple built a settlement of tiny houses and rents them to guests. The legality of such structures in Germany remains open, as rules depend on local regulations.

Aggregated by OpenVan.camp from the public sources listed below, with AI-assisted translation and summary. We always link to the original source. Machine translation may differ from the original -- check the source for important details. Images and content remain the property of their respective owners. Copyright information

Story sources

Tiny house in the garden: is it allowed?

24.07.2026 wp.de DEU Original source

Parking a Caravan in the Garden: What Is Allowed and When Trouble Looms

14.05.2026 CHIP DEU Original source

🇩🇪 Germany — fuel prices

Updated: 25.07.2026

Super E10

$2.49 /l

€2.16 · £1.85/l

135 of 140

pricier than 96% of countries

Super Plus 98

$2.54 /l

€2.21 · £1.89/l

87 of 94

pricier than 91% of countries

Diesel

$2.50 /l

€2.17 · £1.86/l

134 of 141

pricier than 94% of countries

Premium Diesel

$2.80 /l

€2.43 · £2.08/l

38 of 41

pricier than 90% of countries

LPG

$1.27 /l

€1.11 · £0.95/l

50 of 55

pricier than 89% of countries

Popular route

Distance

Fuel cost

~

Est. time

~

Quiz: test yourself
Guess the vanlife lingo — 3 quick questions
1 / 3
Q1 In Germany, which search term is most useful for a simple motorhome overnight stop?

Best regions in the coming days

Schleswig-Holstein +22°·43 km/h
85
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern +23°·33 km/h
83
Lower Saxony +24°·36 km/h
80
Bremen +25°·38 km/h
80
North Rhine-Westphalia +25°·36 km/h
79
Avoid now
Baden-Württemberg +28°·50 km/h
61
Saxony-Anhalt +28°·34 km/h
65

You May Be Interested

All News

Living permanently in a caravan: rules, registration and insurance

Permanent living in a caravan is permitted on designated sites, but not all campgrounds offer such spaces. In Germany, owners must register as "without fixed abode" if they have no address, and a stationary caravan may be considered a primary residence requiring registration. For permanent living, vehicle insurance alone is insufficient, requiring specific camper insurance coverage.

News from Germany

All News

Malibu unveils camper with beds that turn bedroom into garage

Malibu has introduced the Relax 640 LE XR camper based on the Fiat Ducato. Its key feature is two electrically adjustable longitudinal beds that can be raised to the ceiling, creating a cargo compartment with a height of 1450 mm. This space can accommodate four bicycles, two e-bikes, or an enduro motorcycle. The beds are over 2 meters long. The 6.36-meter-long and 2.10-meter-wide model includes a kitchen with an 84-liter refrigerator, a bathroom with a shower, and a Truma Combi 6 D + E diesel heater. Three diesel engines are available: 140, 160, and 180 hp. The world premiere will take place at the Caravan Salon in Düsseldorf from August 28 to September 6, 2026.

Compact ARI Motors 458 Pro Camper costs 25,530 euros

German company ARI Motors has introduced the compact 458 Pro Camper, measuring 3.82 meters in length and 1.49 meters in width. It features solar panels, water tanks, 230-volt outlets, and an interior height of 1.85 meters. The 2.8-square-meter living space is fully customizable. The 15 kW electric motor provides a top speed of 70 km/h and a range of up to 230 km with the optional 23.5 kWh battery (180 km with the standard 15 kWh battery). Running costs are about 4 euros per 100 km. Available in Germany for 25,530 euros excluding taxes.

Since 2025, millions face additional mandatory TÜV inspection

Since July 2025, motorhomes, caravans and other recreational vehicles with a fixed LPG system in Germany must undergo a gas inspection according to the DVGW G 607 standard. This inspection must be carried out every 24 months by certified experts. Missing the deadline can result in a fine between 15 and 60 euros. The new rules also define requirements for the installation of refillable gas cylinders and the training of inspectors.

Install OpenVan.camp

Get quick access and offline reading.

Install on iOS

  1. 1 Tap Share in Safari.
  2. 2 Choose "Add to Home Screen".
  3. 3 Confirm by tapping Add.

Already installed

The app is already installed on this device.

Install from browser menu

Use your browser menu to install or add to home screen.

→ Glossary