16 state building codes # Setback areas A setback area is the strip in front of a building wall that must remain free of development and must lie on your own plot. In almost every German state its depth is 0.4 of the wall height H, at least 3 m — the exceptions are listed below. As of 08/2026 checked against the statutes Choose a state ## Which state applies to your plot? Building regulation is state law in Germany. There is no nationwide rule — the Model Building Code is only a recommendation to the states and applies nowhere directly. [BW · § 5, § 6 LBO Baden-Württemberg 0.4 H · min. 2.5 m ](https://schwarzplan.eu/abstandsflaechen/baden-wuerttemberg/) [BY · Art. 6 BayBO Bayern 0.4 H · min. 3. m ](https://schwarzplan.eu/abstandsflaechen/bayern/) [BE · § 6 BauO Bln Berlin 0.4 H · min. 3. m ](https://schwarzplan.eu/abstandsflaechen/berlin/) [BB · § 6 BbgBO Brandenburg 0.4 H · min. 3. m ](https://schwarzplan.eu/abstandsflaechen/brandenburg/) [HB · § 6 BremLBO Bremen 0.4 H · min. 3. m ](https://schwarzplan.eu/abstandsflaechen/bremen/) [HH · § 6 HBauO Hamburg 0.4 H · min. 2.5 m ](https://schwarzplan.eu/abstandsflaechen/hamburg/) [HE · § 6 HBO Hessen 0.4 H · min. 2.5 m ](https://schwarzplan.eu/abstandsflaechen/hessen/) [MV · § 6 LBauO M-V Mecklenburg-Vorpommern 0.4 H · min. 3. m ](https://schwarzplan.eu/abstandsflaechen/mecklenburg-vorpommern/) [NI · § 5 NBauO Niedersachsen 0.4 H · min. 3. m ](https://schwarzplan.eu/abstandsflaechen/niedersachsen/) [NW · § 6 BauO NRW 2018 Nordrhein-Westfalen 0.4 H · min. 3. m ](https://schwarzplan.eu/abstandsflaechen/nordrhein-westfalen/) [RP · § 8 LBauO Rheinland-Pfalz 0.4 H · min. 3. m ](https://schwarzplan.eu/abstandsflaechen/rheinland-pfalz/) [SL · § 7, § 8 LBO Saarland 0.4 H · min. 3. m ](https://schwarzplan.eu/abstandsflaechen/saarland/) [SN · § 6 SächsBO Sachsen 0.4 H · min. 3. m ](https://schwarzplan.eu/abstandsflaechen/sachsen/) [ST · § 6 BauO LSA Sachsen-Anhalt 0.4 H · min. 3. m ](https://schwarzplan.eu/abstandsflaechen/sachsen-anhalt/) [SH · § 6 LBO Schleswig-Holstein 0.4 H · min. 3. m ](https://schwarzplan.eu/abstandsflaechen/schleswig-holstein/) [TH · § 6 ThürBO Thüringen 0.4 H · min. 3. m ](https://schwarzplan.eu/abstandsflaechen/thueringen/) Work it out yourself ## Calculating setback areas — for every German state Set eaves height, roof pitch, building depth and distance to the boundary, then switch states above — the same building under sixteen sets of rules. The difference shows most clearly in how the roof is counted. Under Art. 6 BayBO 6.00 m 35 ° 10.00 m 3.00 m Ridge above eaves 3.50 m of which counted 1.17 m governing height H 7.17 m required depth 3.00 m The setback area lies entirely on the plot. 3.00 m are required, 3.00 m are kept. A symmetrical gable roof and level ground are assumed. The figure is geometric, not a statement about permissibility: a local by-law, a development plan or a building encumbrance can set different dimensions. For the legal reference, boundary building and the particularities of a state: select it above or open the state's own page. All 16 side by side ## Depth, commercial zones, core zones and boundary building | State | Provision | Factor | minimum | Commercial | Central area | Boundary: per / total | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | [Baden-Württemberg](https://schwarzplan.eu/abstandsflaechen/baden-wuerttemberg/) | § 5, § 6 LBO | 0.4 H | 2.5 m | 0.125 H | 0.2 H | 9. m / 15. m | | [Bayern](https://schwarzplan.eu/abstandsflaechen/bayern/) | Art. 6 BayBO | 0.4 H | 3. m | 0.2 H | – | 9. m / 15. m | | [Berlin](https://schwarzplan.eu/abstandsflaechen/berlin/) | § 6 BauO Bln | 0.4 H | 3. m | 0.2 H | – | 9. m / 15. m | | [Brandenburg](https://schwarzplan.eu/abstandsflaechen/brandenburg/) | § 6 BbgBO | 0.4 H | 3. m | 0.2 H | – | 9. m / 15. m | | [Bremen](https://schwarzplan.eu/abstandsflaechen/bremen/) | § 6 BremLBO | 0.4 H | 3. m | 0.2 H | – | 9. m / 18. m | | [Hamburg](https://schwarzplan.eu/abstandsflaechen/hamburg/) | § 6 HBauO | 0.4 H | 2.5 m | 0.2 H | – | 9. m / 15. m | | [Hessen](https://schwarzplan.eu/abstandsflaechen/hessen/) | § 6 HBO | 0.4 H | 2.5 m | 0.2 H | – | 25 m² / 15. m | | [Mecklenburg-Vorpommern](https://schwarzplan.eu/abstandsflaechen/mecklenburg-vorpommern/) | § 6 LBauO M-V | 0.4 H | 3. m | 0.2 H | – | 9. m / 15. m | | [Niedersachsen](https://schwarzplan.eu/abstandsflaechen/niedersachsen/) | § 5 NBauO | 0.4 H | 3. m | 0.2 H | – | 9. m / 15. m | | [Nordrhein-Westfalen](https://schwarzplan.eu/abstandsflaechen/nordrhein-westfalen/) | § 6 BauO NRW 2018 | 0.4 H | 3. m | 0.2 H | 0.25 H | 9. m / 18. m | | [Rheinland-Pfalz](https://schwarzplan.eu/abstandsflaechen/rheinland-pfalz/) | § 8 LBauO | 0.4 H | 3. m | 0.25 H | – | 12. m / 18. m | | [Saarland](https://schwarzplan.eu/abstandsflaechen/saarland/) | § 7, § 8 LBO | 0.4 H | 3. m | 0.2 H | – | 12. m / 15. m | | [Sachsen](https://schwarzplan.eu/abstandsflaechen/sachsen/) | § 6 SächsBO | 0.4 H | 3. m | 0.2 H | – | 9. m / 15. m | | [Sachsen-Anhalt](https://schwarzplan.eu/abstandsflaechen/sachsen-anhalt/) | § 6 BauO LSA | 0.4 H | 3. m | 0.2 H | – | 9. m / 15. m | | [Schleswig-Holstein](https://schwarzplan.eu/abstandsflaechen/schleswig-holstein/) | § 6 LBO | 0.4 H | 3. m | 0.2 H | – | 9. m / 18. m | | [Thüringen](https://schwarzplan.eu/abstandsflaechen/thueringen/) | § 6 ThürBO | 0.4 H | 3. m | 0.2 H | – | 9. m / 18. m | Bold marks anything that deviates from the common value: 3 states have a minimum depth other than 3 m, 2 a commercial factor other than 0.2 H, and 5 allow 18 m of boundary building instead of 15 m. The most common error ## How the roof is counted — four different systems Guides almost always quote the same formula: "roof surfaces steeper than 70° count in full, steeper than 45° count one third." That rule applies in 4 of the 16 states. 4 states have no proportional allowance at all, 2 count a quarter rather than a third, and 6 count a third with no 45° step. 4 states keine Anrechnung Das Land kennt keine anteilige Dachanrechnung. Die Wandhöhe H wird stattdessen unmittelbar an der Dachhaut bzw. abschnittsweise ermittelt. [Berlin](https://schwarzplan.eu/abstandsflaechen/berlin/), [Brandenburg](https://schwarzplan.eu/abstandsflaechen/brandenburg/), [Niedersachsen](https://schwarzplan.eu/abstandsflaechen/niedersachsen/), [Thüringen](https://schwarzplan.eu/abstandsflaechen/thueringen/) 4 states über 70° voll, über 45° ein Drittel Dachflächen über 70° Neigung werden voll auf H angerechnet, Dachflächen über 45° zu einem Drittel. Das ist die Formel, die Ratgeber meist für ganz Deutschland behaupten – sie gilt in vier Ländern. [Hessen](https://schwarzplan.eu/abstandsflaechen/hessen/), [Nordrhein-Westfalen](https://schwarzplan.eu/abstandsflaechen/nordrhein-westfalen/), [Rheinland-Pfalz](https://schwarzplan.eu/abstandsflaechen/rheinland-pfalz/), [Saarland](https://schwarzplan.eu/abstandsflaechen/saarland/) 6 states unter 70° ein Drittel, sonst voll Dachflächen unter 70° Neigung werden zu einem Drittel angerechnet, ab 70° voll. Eine Zwischenstufe bei 45° gibt es nicht. [Bayern](https://schwarzplan.eu/abstandsflaechen/bayern/), [Bremen](https://schwarzplan.eu/abstandsflaechen/bremen/), [Hamburg](https://schwarzplan.eu/abstandsflaechen/hamburg/), [Mecklenburg-Vorpommern](https://schwarzplan.eu/abstandsflaechen/mecklenburg-vorpommern/), [Sachsen](https://schwarzplan.eu/abstandsflaechen/sachsen/), [Sachsen-Anhalt](https://schwarzplan.eu/abstandsflaechen/sachsen-anhalt/) 2 states über 70° voll, über 45° ein Viertel Dachflächen über 70° Neigung werden voll angerechnet, über 45° nur zu einem Viertel – günstiger als die verbreitete Drittel-Regel. [Baden-Württemberg](https://schwarzplan.eu/abstandsflaechen/baden-wuerttemberg/), [Schleswig-Holstein](https://schwarzplan.eu/abstandsflaechen/schleswig-holstein/) Terminology ## Setback area, boundary distance, building on the boundary Abstandsfläche (setback area) is the technical term used in the Model Building Code and in fifteen state building codes: the area in front of the wall that must remain free. Grenzabstand (boundary distance) is the term used by the Lower Saxony building code — § 5 NBauO does not use the word "Abstandsfläche" at all. Colloquially it also simply means the distance from the building to the boundary. Grenzbebauung (boundary building) refers to the special case where a building may stand directly on the boundary without a setback area — typically garages, carports and garden sheds below certain dimensions. Limits of this information ## What these tables do not answer These figures reproduce the state building code. A local by-law, a development plan or a registered building encumbrance can set different dimensions — and there is no nationwide register of such by-laws. Only the building authority's own information is binding. And the most common error in practice: exempt from a permit does not mean exempt from setbacks. A carport that needs no building application must still keep the setback areas.